Information about Old Iloilo Provincial Jail

Old Iloilo Provincial Jail

Iloilo Provincial Jail is a centuries-old building that once housed criminals but now serves as a regional extension of the National Museum of the Philippines. It is located along Muelle Loney St in Iloilo City. The Iloilo provincial government officially handed over the jail to the National Museum on April 11, 2018, which coincided with the 117th founding anniversary of the province of Iloilo. The century-old facility was built in 1911 and stopped functioning as a jail in 2006. 

Since its renovation and repurposing into a part of the National Museum, it has been recognized as "a cultural property enjoying the presumption of law as an important property; possesses exceptional cultural and architectural significance relative to the local areas, history and culture; and merits official recognition as a part of the heritage and patrimony of the Filipino people."

The museum has five galleries in the lower ground area and an open gallery on the second floor. These galleries exhibit hundreds of archaeological artifacts, such as the fossilized teeth of an extinct elephant species found in the Cabatuan municipality.

Best time to visit

The museum is open to visitors all year round