The Philippine Correctional System

PENAL FARMS
UNDER THE
BUREAU OF
CORRECTION
(BuCor)
1847 (Old Bilibid Prison)
The main penitentiary was the Old Bilibid Prison on
Oroquieta Street in Manila.
 It was formally opened on April 10, 1866 by a Royal
Decree.
1870 (San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm)
August 21, 1870,
established to confine Muslim rebels and recalcitrant
political prisoners opposed to the Spanish rule.
The facility, which faced the Jolo Sea, had Spanish-
inspired dormitories and was originally set on a 1,414-
hectare sprawling estate.
 Considered the oldest penal facility in the country, prisoners in
San Ramon were required to do agricultural work.
American Regime
1900s (Bureau of Prisons)
Reorganization Act of 1905 (Act No. 1407 dated
November 1, 1905)
BP is an agency under the Department of Commerce
and Police.
 It also paved the way for the re-establishment of
San Ramon Prison in 1907, which was destroyed in
1898 during the Spanish-American War.
1904 (Iuhit penal settlement )
 in 1904 the Iuhit penal settlement (now Iwahig Prison
and Penal Farm) was established on a vast
reservation of 28,072 hectares.
 It would reach a total land area of 40,000 hectares in
the late 1950s.
 It was located on the westernmost part of the
archipelago far from the main town to confine
incorrigibles with little hope of rehabilitation.
 41,007 hectares by virtue of Executive Order No. 67
issued by Governor Newton Gilbert on October 15,
1912.
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 six 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. 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.
Four Zones of Iwahig
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
Inawagan with 13,000 hectares
Correctional Institution for Women
(CIW)
1929 (CIW) – Act No. 3579
On November 27, 1929, the Correctional Institution
for Women (CIW) was created under Act No. 3579.
 To date, it is the only prison facility for women. In the
country.
 Its old name, “Women’s Prison,”
 1932 (Davao Penal Colony )
January 21, 1932
Act No. 3732.
About 500 hectares of the Davao Penal Colony used to be
planted to abaca.
 A few years later, a new sub colony was founded in
Kapalong district.
 prisoners are to be trained as part of their rehabilitation
in agro-industrial production of fruits like bananas
1940 ( NBP)
 Accordingly, Commonwealth Act No. 67 was
enacted, appropriating one million pesos for the
construction of a new national prison in Muntinlupa.
 On November 15, 1940, all inmates of the Old Bilibid
Prison in Manila were transferred to the new site.
The new institution had a capacity of 3,000
prisoners and it was officially named the New
Bilibid Prison on January 22, 1941. The prison
reservation had an area of 587 hectares, part of which
was arable.
Maximum Security Compound
The institution became the maximum security
compound in the ‘70s and continues to be so.
The camp houses not only death convicts and inmates
sentenced to life term, but also those with numerous
pending cases, multiple convictions, and sentences of
more than 20 years.
Minimum Security Camp(Bukang
Liwayway)
The NBP expanded with the construction of new
security facilities.
 These were the Medium Security Camp, which was
used as a military stockade during martial law and the
Minimum Security Camp, whose first site was
christened Bukang Liwayway.
Camp Sampaguita or the Medium Security Camp

In the 1980s, the height of the concrete wall was increased
and another facility was constructed, 2.5 kilometers
from the main building. This became known as Camp
Sampaguita or the Medium Security Camp
SABLAYAN PRISON AND PENAL
FARM
(1954) SABLAYAN PRISON AND
PENAL FARM:
Established on September 26, 1954 by virtue of
Presidential Proclamation No. 72.
16,190 hectares.
 Three sub-colonies
 Sablayan prison is a facility where prisoners from
NBP are brought for decongestion purposes.
LEYTE REGIONAL PRISON
1972 (LEYTE REGIONAL
PRISON)
Abuyog, Southern Leyte, was established a year after
the declaration of martial law in 1972
Presidential Decree No. 28.
The LRP has an inmate capacity of 500. It follows the
same agricultural format as the main correctional
program in addition to some rehabilitation activities.
Davao Penal Colony
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.
Organization of BJMP and Bureau of Correction
Regional Office (BJMP)

At the Regional Level, each Region shall have a

designated Assistant regional Director for Jail
Management and Penology.
 Provincial Level (BJMP)

In the Provincial Level, there shall be

designated a Provincial Jail Administrator to
perform the same functions as the ARDs
province wide.
 District Office (BJMP)
In the District Level, where there are large
cities and municipalities, a district jail with
subordinate jails, headed by a District warden
may be established as necessary.
City and Municipal Office (BJMP)
in the City and Municipal level, a city or
municipal Warden shall head each jail.
 Administrative Groups
The Administrative Groups take charge of all
administrative functions of the jail bureau.
Administrative Groups
Personnel Management Branch
Records and Statistics Branch
Property And Supply Branch
Budget and Finance Branch
Mess Service Branch
General Service Branch
Mittimus Computing Branch
Personnel Management Branch
Assignment of Personnel, Procedures of
selection, Preparation of personnel reports,
Individual record file.
Records and Statistics Branch
Keep and maintain booking sheets and
arrest reports, keep an orderly record of
fingerprints and photographs,
Present/Prepare statistical data of inmates.
 Property and Supply Branch
Take charge of safekeeping of equipments and
supplies and materials needed for the
operations of the jail.
 Budget an Finance Branch
Take charge of all financial matters such as
budgeting, financing, accounting and auditing
Mess service Branch
Take charge of the preparation of the daily
menu, prepares and cook the food and serve it
to inmates.
General Service Branch
Responsible for the maintenance and repair of
jail facilities and equipments. It is also task
with the cleanliness and beautification of the
jail compound.
Mittimus Computing Branch
Tasked to receive court decisions and compute
the date of the full completion of the service of
sentence of inmates.
Mittimus
Is a warrant issued by a court directing the jail
or the prison authorities to receive the
convicted offender for the service of the
sentence imposed therein or for detention.
Detention Mittimus
Sentenced Mittimus
 The Security Groups
The Security Groups provides a system of
sound custody, security and control of inmates
and their movements and also responsible to
enforce prison or jail discipline.
The Security Groups
Escort Platoon
Security Platoon
Escort platoon is compose of:
Escort Section – to escort inmate upon order of any
judicial body; upon summon of a court; or transfer to
other penal institutions.
Subpoena Section – receives and distribute court
summons, notices, subpoenas, etc.
1:1+1(ratio)
Security Platoon
A three (3) working platoon shifts
responsible for, over all security of all jail
compound including gates, guard post and
towers.
They are also responsible for the admitting
and releasing unit.
1:7 (ratio)
Rehabilitation Purpose Groups
This groups provides services and
assistance to prisoners and their families to
enable them to solve their individual needs
and problems arising from the prisoners’
confinement.
Rehabilitation Purposes Groups
Medical and Health Services Branch
Work and Education Therapy Services
Socio- Cultural Services
Chaplaincy Services
Guidance and Counseling Services
Medical and Health Services Branch
Provides medical and physical examinations of
inmates upon confinement, treatment of sick
inmates and conduct medical and physical
examinations and provide medicines or
recommends for the hospitalization of seriously ill
prisoners or inmates.
It also conducts psychiatric and psychological
examinations.
Work and Education Therapy services
It take charge of the job and educational
programs needed for the rehabilitation of
inmates by providing them job incentives so
they can earn and provide support for their
families while in jail.
Socio- Cultural Services
It takes care of the social case work study of
individual prisoners by making interviews,
home visits, referral to community
resources, free legal services, and liaison
works for the inmates.
Chaplaincy Services
It takes charge of the religious and moral
upliftment of the inmates through religious
services.
This branch caters to all religious sects.
Guidance and Counseling Services
Responsible for the individual and group
counseling activities to help inmates solve
their individual problems and to help them
lead a wholesome and constructive life.
Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC)
This is a special unit of prison (Camp
Sampaguita) where new prisoners undergo
diagnostic examination, study and
observation for the purpose of determining
the programs of treatment and training best
suited to their needs and the institution to
which they should be transferred.
RDC STAFF
The Psychiatrist
The Psychologist
The Sociologist
The Educational Counselor
The Vocational Counselor
The Chaplain
The Medical Officer
Custodial-Correctional Officer
The Quarantine Cell or Unit
This maybe a unit of the prison or a section of the
RDC where the prisoner is given through physical
examination including blood test, x-rays, vaccinations
and immunity.
This is for the purpose of insuring that the prisoner is
not suffering from any contagious disease, which
might be transferred to the prison population.
Admission Procedures In Prison
Receiving
Checking of Commitment Papers
Identification
Searching
Briefing and Orientation
 Treatment Programs

Institutional Treatment Program

Community Based-Treatment Program
Institutional Treatment Program

Prison Education
Work Programs
Religious Services
Recreational Program
Medical & Health Services
Counseling & Casework
Prison Education

It is the cornerstone of rehabilitation.

It is the process or result of formal training in school
pr classrooms intended to shape the mind and attitude
of prisoners towards good living upon their release.
CLASSES OF PRISON EDUCATION:
General Academic Education
Vocational Education
Physical Education
Work Programs

These are programs conductive to change behavior in

morale by training prisoners for a useful occupation.
It is purposely to eliminate idleness on the part of
prisoners, which may contribute to “Prison Stupor”,
and it affects the incidence of Prison riot.
Classification of Prison Work Programs
 Educational assignments – prisoners may be assigned to either
general education, vocational or physical education.
 Maintenance Assignment - this assignment involves labor
related to care and up keeping of the institution properties.
 Agricultural and Industrial Assignments
 Unassignable - prisoners who are nearly to leave the institution,
awaiting transfer, those in disciplinary status, and those who are
chronologically ill with mental disabilities are considered
unassignable prisoners.
Religious Services in Prison
The purpose of this program is to
change the attitudes of inmates by
inculcating religious values or beliefs.
Functions of Chaplain
Conduct communion and confession
Conduct religious ministry
Conduct private and personal counseling
Other chaplaincy services
Administrative Function of the
Chaplain:

Member of the RDC staff,

Member of the classification committee,
Render Evaluation to the BPP
Recreational Programs
Mental and Physical development.
Help prisoner to become aware of their individual
conditions to provide them a method of improvement.
Development of cooperative competitions,
Arouse the interest of the prisoners in recreational
programs.
Medical and Health Services
Mental and Physical examination
Diagnosis and Treatment
Immunization
Sanitary Inspections
Participation in training
Counseling and Casework
Objectives of Counseling
 immediate solution of specific personal problem,
 Help inmates to increase self-understanding,
Objective of Casework
 to obtain clear description of social history,
 Solving immediate problems involving family problems or
other personal relationship,
 Assist inmates towards acceptable solutions,
 Support inmates, who are nearly release by giving them
guidance or information,
 Professional assistance to offenders on probation or parole.