SABLAYAN PRISON AND PENAL FARM: Nearer to Manila than other penal colonies, the Sablayan Penal

Colony is located in Occidental Mindoro and relatively new. Established on September 26, 1954 by
virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 72, the penal colony has a total land area of approximately
16,190 hectares.

Prison records show that the first colonists and employees arrived in Sablayan on January 15, 1955.
Since then several buildings have been constructed, including the colonists dormitories, employees
quarters, guardhouse, schoolhouse, chapel, recreation hall, and post exchange.

Three sub-colonies were later organized. One is a reservation which this day remains part of a
protected rainforest. Another is in a coastal area. The third was used by the national government as a
relocation site for refugees from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Sablayan prison is a facility where prisoners from NBP are brought for decongestion purposes. It follows
the same colony standards as other penal farms.

Sablayan Penal Colony Farm : On September 26,1954 through Proclamation No. 72. the SablayanPenal
Colony was constructed in a 16,000 hectarelot located in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. It is anopen
type institution which has rice for its principalproduct and grows vegetable crops for theirconsumption
and that of the convict of the otherinstitutions. The penal colony is self reliant in termsof agricultural
product needs and considered as thefastest growing and youngest institution in thePhilippine
correctional administration system
SABLAYAN PRISON AND PENAL FARM: Nearer to Manila than other penal colonies,
the Sablayan Penal Colony is located in Occidental Mindoro and relatively
new. Established on September 26, 1954 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 72,
the penal colony has a total land area of approximately 16,190 hectares.

Prison records show that the first colonists and employees arrived in Sablayan on
January 15, 1955. Since then several buildings have been constructed, including the
colonists’ dormitories, employees’ quarters, guardhouse, schoolhouse, chapel,
recreation hall, and post exchange.
 Three sub-colonies were later organized. One is a reservation which this day
remains part of a protected rainforest. Another is in a coastal area. The third was used
by the national government as a relocation site for refugees from the eruption of Mt.
Pinatubo eruption in 1991.

Sablayan prison is a facility where prisoners from NBP are brought for decongestion
purposes. It follows the same colony standards as other penal farms
(source: http://www.bucor.gov.ph/).
Unlike any other or the usual penal colony, the prisoners here are almost enjoying their
freedom. Instead of being locked down inside concrete structures with metal bars, they
can roam around the area without so much restriction. They are also made to til the land
area so as to have their own supply of at least basic food requirements for during their
stay.

Prisoners are also allowed to build their nipa huts. And since it is a mix of different
religion, churches and worship houses were constructed to cater various religions of the
prisoners.
Some inmates were also allowed to have their wife/husband to live with them inside the
colony. This is evident by some playground around the area.
The penal provide also provides an access road to vehicles from Sablayan going to
Abra de Ilog Port.