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 colonist’s 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 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.