DAVAO PRISON AND PENAL FARM

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. 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 enal 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.
D u r i n g W o r
camp where more than 1,000
Japanese internees were
committed by the Philippine-
American Armed Forces. The
Japanese weretreated in
accordance with the orders of
the American commanding
officer.
O n D e c e m b e
the colony was among the
establishments taken over by
the invading army.The entire settlement was thrown into confusion and
a great numberof prisoners escaped. Normal operations were inevitably
disturbed. November 8, 1942, a representative of the Director of
Prisons transferred the colony and its properties to the Japanese
authorities. The remaining colony employees, their families and the
inmates evacuated to Iwahig where they organized the Davao Penal
Colony at Inagawan sub colony (Palawan). The organization of the
colony in exile was authorized by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 60
dated June 28, 1943 and signed by the Director of Prisons.
After the liberation of the Philippines, the colony-in-exile in
Palawan returned to its old site in Davao. A great deal of rebuilding
and repair had to be done because the war had almost completely
destroyed the colony.