the historical background of iwahig penal farm

1. Iwahig Prison and
Penal Farm
Presented by:
GLENN MARK M.
SIOSE
SAMID L. IMAL

2. INTRODUCTION
• IWAHIG PENAL COLONY. This facility was
established during the American occupation. It was
however, during the Spanish regime that Puerto
Princesa was designated as a place where offenders
sentenced to banishment were exiled. A specific area of
Puerto Princesa was selected as the site for a
correctional facility. The American military carved
out a prison facility in the rain forest of Puerto
Princesa. The institution had for its first
Superintendent Lt. George Wolfe, a member of the
U.S. expeditionary force, who later became the first
prisons director.

3. • Iwahig Penal Colony is the biggest penal facility in the country
at 40,000 hectares comprising mostly of undulating vegetation
and pure jungle. It has often been referred to as the last forest
frontier in the country. The 60% of its wild life and fauna have
as yet to be catalogued and identified by modern science. It
introduced the first open prison approach, a model acknowledged
by United Nations and lifted liberally the open institution
program in Japan’s correctional system. It is a land-locked
area in the middle of Palawan province, not an island, organized
during the American Occupation. The term “Iwahig” has
evolved from the term “Iuhit” the name of the place before the
penal facility was founded. The Iuhit Penal Settlement now
known as Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm was established in
1904 by the Americans in 28,072 hectares of land.
HISTORY

4. HISTOR
Y
The land areas expanded to 41,007 hectares by
virtue of Executive Order No. 67 issued by
Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15,
1912. Since the 1970s the vast Iwahig prison
reservation has been reduced with the issuance
of a series of Presidential Proclamation. The
last forest frontier is nearing extinction due to
a number of issuances all intended to wreck
the eco system and push climate change to the
front.

5. RECREATION AND FACILITIES
• In 1955, Administrative Order No. 20 was promulgated by the
President and implemented by the Secretary of Justice and the
Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources. This order
allowed the distribution of colony
lands for cultivation by deserving colonists. The order also
contained a list of qualifications for colonists who wished to apply
for a lot to cultivate, the conditions for the settler’s stay in his land,
loan requirements and marketing of the settlers’ produce. Lots
granted did not exceed 6 hectares.
• On August 16, 1959, a committee was created by President Carlos
P. Garcia to study the state of national prisons. Accordingly,
prisoners in Iwahig were divided into two groups: the settlers and
colonists. The settlers are those engaged in farming for their own
benefit; they are the ones whose applications for land to cultivate
have been approved.

6. RECREATION AND FACILITIES
• The government furnishes the land and initial requirements for
tools, dwellings and beast of burden. They are required to
reimburse expenditures incurred for their maintenance and that
of their families out of the products of their farms. Upon their
release from the colony, they receive whatever amount of
money they have credited in their favor, after deducting the
obligations they have.
• Iwahig is subdivided into four zones or districts: Central
sub-colony with an area of 14,700 hectares; Sta. Lucia with
9,685 hectares; Montible with 8,000 hectares and
Inagawan with 13,000 hectares.

7. • The settlement was at first beset by
attempted escapes. But under the
supervision of Col. John R. White
of the Philippine Constabulary,
who would become superintendent
of Iwahig in 1906, the colony
became a successful settlement. A
merit system was devised for the
prisoners and vocational activities
were offered. These included
farming, fishing, forestry,
carpentry, hospital and
paramedical work. Prisoners could
choose the vocational activities they
RECREATION AND FACILITIES

8. GALLERY

9. • References
– Department of Justice:Attached Agencies,
retrieved 2008-05-27
– Bureau of Corrections:Corrections in the
Philippines, retrieved 2009-10-16
– Department of Agriculture, retrieved 2008-05-27
– http://www.eidf.org/2006/fall_en/sub/board.htm
?table=news_en&mode=read&no=52&curPage=1
&col=&str=&rnum=49

10. Davao Prison and
Penal Farm
Presented by:
GLENN MARK M.
SIOSE
SAMID L. IMAL

11. HISTORY
• On October 7, 1931, Governor Dwight Davis signed
proclamation 414 which reserved a site for Penal
Colony in Davao Province in Mindanao and on
January 21, 1932 by virtue of Act No. 3732, the
Davao Penal Colony was formally established. During
World War II, it was used by the Philippine-
American Armed Forces were more than 1000
Japanese were treated in accordance with the orders of
American commanding officer. The Japanese
Imperial Forces attacked Davao on December 20,
1941 and the colony was among of the establishments
that were taken over by the imperial army.

12. INTRODUTION
• The Davao Penal Colony is the first penal settlement founded
and organized under Filipino administration. The settlement,
which originally had an area of approximately 30,000 hectares
in the districts of Panabo and Tagum, Davao del Norte, was
formally established on January 21, 1932 by virtue of Act No.
3732.
• This Act authorized the Governor-General to lease or sell the
lands, buildings and improvements in San Ramon Prison and
Iwahig Penal Colony. It also granted authority to the
Secretary of Justice to establish a new prison and penal colony
in a suitable public land. A budget of P500,000 was allocated.
Several committees were created to pick a suitable site for the
penal settlement. In accordance with the recommendation of
these committees, Governor Dwight Davis signed
Proclamation No. 414 on October 7, 1931, which reserved a
site for the penal colony in Davao province in Mindandao.
The site offered ideal conditions for agricultural activities.

13. GALLERY
OLD NEW

14. • References
– Department of Justice.official website
– Bureau of Corrections.official website
– Corrections in the Philippines.official website
– Department of Agriculture, retrieved 2008-05-27
– http://www.eidf.org/2006/fall_en/sub/board.htm
?table=news_en&mode=read&no=52&curPage=1
&col=&str=&rnum=49
– Googlesearch.com