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 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 Mindanao. The site
offered ideal conditions for agricultural activities.

During World War II, the colony was converted into a concentration
camp where more than 1,000 Japanese internees were committed
by the Philippine-American Armed Forces. The Japanese were
treated in accordance with the orders of the American commanding
officer.

On December 20, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Forces attacked

Davao and the colony was among the establishments taken over by
the invading army. The entire settlement was thrown into confusion
and a great number of 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.

Davao Penal Colony has two (2) sub-colonies: (1) Panabo and (2)
kapalong with each under a penal supervisor. It has also a
settlement site for released prisoners who no longer wish to return
to their homes but choose to remain in Davao as homesteaders. This
settlement area is called Tanglaw Settlement.

The first Public-Private-Partnership

A private company (Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation
or TADECO) explored the possibility of conducting a joint
agricultural venture with Davao Prison. It was experimental to say
the least.

A Template of Modern Corrective Practice

Under this program are prisoners conscripted and enrolled in a
Tesda formulated farming course. This is where qualified (soon-to-
be-released or those under medium and minimum security status)
inmates are immersed in agricultural based farming and provided
with stipends equivalent to the wage of an agricultural farm worker
in the free community. Some released prisoners, already skilled in
banana farm care and maintenance, are absorbed in Tadeco and
other farms in nearby towns.

Dapecol has gone a long way. From a dreaded and fearful penal
complex to a highly productive center of learning where
rehabilitation and reformatory programs highlight its mission and
mandate.

Davao Penal Colony is within a vast banana plantation, considered

the biggest in the world, although technically, it is the other way
 around. The plantation is within the vast prison reservation of Davao
Penal Colony.

Dapecol encroaches on three big local government subdivision, a

city and two municipalities. Panabo city on the western side, Dujali
municipality on the eastern part, Sto Tomas Municipality on the
northern area. From Davao city, the de facto capital of Mindanao, it
is 56 kilometres or an hour’s drive. Its road distance from Manila is
almost 1, 500 kilometres. By land, it can be traversed for two days.
By sea, three days trip.

Dapecol (Davao Penal Colony) Today

Dapecol is likewise an extraordinary community segregated by
farms from nearby municipal areas. In a highly predominant Visayan
dialect province of Davao del Norte, it is the only enclave where
Tagalog is the prevailing tongue. More so, it is also the only penal
establishment in the country where there is a camp for male and
another camp for female offenders.

Those who have taken a glimpse and have visited the place had only
fond memories of visiting an ordinary prison breathing in an
extraordinary manner.

DIRECTOR GENERAL

POSITION DESIGNATION/OFFICE
NAME

Director General Director General

GERALD Q. BANTAG
 DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

POSITION DESIGNATION/OFFICE
NAME

Deputy Director General for Administration

Deputy Director General

ASEC. MELVIN RAMON Deputy Director General for Security & Operation
Deputy Director General
G. BUENAFE CEO VI

Deputy Director General Deputy Director General for Reformation

PRISON AND PENAL FARMS SUPERINTENDENTS AND CHIEF OF

HOSPITALS
Officer-In-Charge
Superintendent
CSUPT RUFINO A. MARTIN Corrections Superintendent
Davao Prison and Penal
Farm
Chief
Corrections Technical
DR. ELMER A. DERLA Davao Prison & Penal Farm
Superintendent
Hospital

Mission
o To protect the public by safekeeping and reforming
persons under our custody adhering to international
standards of corrections service.

Vision
 A safer society by 2028 through reformed persons reintegrated
by a highly efficient and competent corrections servic
Functions
1. Safe keep prisoners convicted by courts three (3) years and one
(1) day and above to serve sentence in prison.
2. Prevent prisoners from committing crimes.
3. Provide inmates basic needs.
4. Ensure rehabilitation programs are made available to the inmates
for their physical, intellectual and spiritual development.
5. Develop livelihood programs to assist inmates earn a living and
develop their skills while in prison.

That’s all.
Thank you. ;)
Davao prison and
Penal farm

Reported by:

Cesar V, Gutib Jr.

Ariel Dominguez