San Ramon Penal

Colony
Presentation by:
Andrei F. Cabading
Meneses T. Fernando
 INTRODUCTION
• San Ramon Penal Farm was established in
Southern Zamboanga on August 2, 1870
through a royal decree promulgated in 1869. It
was establish during the tenure of Governor
General Ramon Blanco (whose patron saint the
prison was named after) the facility was
originally established for persons convicted of
political crimes.
History
• Considered the oldest facility in the country,
prisoners in San Ramon were required to do
agricultural works.
• During Spanish-American in 1898, the prisoners
in San Ramon was hastily released and the
buildings destroyed. In 1907, the American
administration re-established the prison farm.
• In 1912 Gen. John Pershing, chief executive of
the Department of Mindanao and Sulu,
classified the institution as a prison and penal
colony and therein confined people sentenced by
the courts under his jurisdiction.
History
• Under Pershing’s supervision,
several buildings with a capacity
for 600 prisoners were
constructed. After several years,
the colony became practically
self supporting, with 75,000
coconut trees, which were
planted at the beginning of
Pershing’s administration,
contributing to the colony self-
sufficiency. Aside from coconut,
rice, corn, papaya and other
were also cultivated.
 History
• In November 1, 1905, Reorganization Act No. 1407
was approved creating the Bureau of Prison under the
Department of Commerce and police, integrating the
Old Bilibid Prison, San Ramon penal colony and
Iwahig penal colony. The Philippine Coconut
Authority took over management of the coconut farm
from San Ramon. In 1995, Congresswoman Maria
Clara L. Lobregat proposed the transfer of San
Ramon prison in Bongiao town, in the mountainous
area of Zamboanga, to give way to a special
economic zone.
Recreation and Facilities
• The San Ramon Penal Farm
prisoners were being asked to work
in farms. They also have their own
school, all who can’t read and write
are required to attend school. They
encourage to create a lot of
handicrafts which are being sold in
their handicraft center. The
prisoners pass the time in playing
basketball, volleyball, billiards,
chess for enjoyment. They also
given a regular task everyday like
cooking, cleaning, gardening etc…
 Population

Inmate population in Philippine national prisons, 2002

Prison Facility Capacity Population Rate of Congestion
• New Bilibid Prison 8,700 16,134 85%
• Correctional Institution for Women 500 951 90%
• Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm 3,500 1,974 -
• Davao Prison and Penal Farm 3,100 3,005 -
• San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm 1,300 1,000 -
• Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm 1,500 1,050 -
• Leyte Regional Prison 1,000 888 -
Total 19,600 25,002 28%
GALLERY
(ENTRANCE VIEW)
GALLER
Y (FACILITIES)
GALLER
Y (FACILITIES)
GALLER
Y
(FRONT VIEW)
GALLER
Y
(INMATES)
 Point Of View
•  This 136 year old institution, still functioning today dating back to the late
Spanish regime will soon be a thing of the past. Its misfortune, if we can
call it that way , is that it stands in the way of an ambitious project of
government to invite investors to Zamboanga.

• I think it will not be as difficult to the marketing and promotions

department of the Zamboanga Economic Zone (ZamboEcoZone) here to
invite investors to be a locator even the penal colony is adjacent to the
economic zone in San Ramon.

• The Zamboanga Ecozone, whose top officials are Zamboangueños were the
ones who initiated for the transfer of the penitentiary from San Ramon to
the hills of Curuan. None of them probably thought of the historical
significance of the institution to the people of Zamboanga. As a result the
Department of Justice turned over the site to the Ecozone. So then the
Ecozone will shoulder the cost of the transfer but in turn they get this
choice property of earth for their use.
 Point Of View
Why can this happen in Zamboanga that prides on its
Spanish and American heritage?
• How can an insensitive populace or bureaucracy allow this
“desecration” of a historical site. To make matters worse, the
National Historical Commission has failed to declare the San
Ramon Prison and Penal Farm as a historical site that should
be preserved, untampered for the future generation.
• I just also imagine that the people of Zamboanga are about to
lost one of the last few remaining relics and link with the past.
Once lost, this institution will be lost forever. And nobody
seems to care.
 Reference
• Bureau of Correction.website
• Department of Justice.website
• Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology.website
• Googlesearch.com
• Zamboanga.com News