Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

About

The Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm was established by the Americans in 1904 as a self-governing penal colony where convicts could have their own government and work to support themselves. Over 100 a century later, this concept is still proving a successful way to rehabilitate offenders. Now covering an area twice the size of Paris, inmates work on rice paddies, coconut plantations, corn fields, and vegetable plots, or sell handicrafts and snacks to visitors. That’s right, this open-air prison is open to the public, and is quite popular with locals who come to swim in the river that runs through the grounds. This presents an unusual opportunity to interact with the prisoners, learn about their lives before and during their incarceration, and help support them for their eventual release by buying some of their hand-made souvenirs.