Leper colony no more

MANILA, Philippines - A visit to the Culion Leper Colony on Culion Island lends a bit of history to northern Palawan. The Leper Colony was established by the US government in order to rid leprosy from the Philippines through the only method known at the time: isolating all existing cases and gradually phasing out the disease. In addition to segregating the disease from the rest of the population, the island was later established in order to offer a better opportunity for people afflicted with leprosy, not only from the Philippines, but also from other parts of the world to receive adequate care. 

The first known origin of leprosy in the Philippines dates back to time of the first Spanish Exploration of the Philippines. By 1830, approximately 400 lepers were patients in Leper Colonies established by Catholic priests at Manila, Cebu and Nueva Caceras. 

By the time American forces landed in the Philippines at the beginning of the 20th century, surveys estimated that approximately 3,500 to 4,000 people with leprosy were living on the islands and some 1,200 new cases were developing each year. Military authorities found Culion to be the most desirable location.

By the ‘20s, modern medicine began to reduce active leprosy among the population, although hundreds of residents still suffered from the results of the disease.

In 1964, the Liberalization Act was passed, prohibiting the admission of early active cases of leprosy, reducing the jurisdiction of the Department of Health over the islands. After this time, Culion was inundated by settlers, primarily non-lepers who were families and friends of the patients, and government employees.

While the pain of separation was eased by this flood of immigration, the natural resources were rapidly depleted. The government acted in 1974 to revert Culion into a reservation under the Department of Health. 

As the community progressed, positive changes were made, and the former leper colony became a municipality in 1999. In 2005 Culion was declared leprosy-free. 

Today, there are a number of resorts on the island and domestic and foreign tourists are now starting to visit this charming destination.