Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
17" CONGRESS oate: 05 OCT 2016
First Regular Session Tune: 159 tg
ane
House Bill No, “YY

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

EPLANATORY NOTE.

Some of our strongest held convictions are those which have been molded
and branded on us from the days of our youth. It is those lessons which have
been repeated, established, and demonstrated on us again and again, which we
latched on to when situations where we could act contrary to them arises. It is
under this premise that in this bill it is proposed that a mandatory continuing
education on the perils of Drug Addiction be enacted in our school system in the
secondary level.

This bill aims to implement the mandatory education on the perils of Drug
Addiction to all secondary level students, both public and private. The proposed
mandatory mode of doing it would be through an activity, be it in the form of
lectures or out of school trips, designed by the Department of Education and
other relevant agencies, conducted once every quarter of the school year. The
intent would be that it opens the eyes of our students to the realities of drug
addiction, as to how it is capable of not only destroying once life, but also the
lives of people around them.

The vigor of the current administration in defeating the drug problem in
the country is not without its marginal critics, that being said what cannot be
doubted is that with the deliberate efforts of law enforcement, the eyes of this
nation has been opened to the festering realities of our generation, We must
work towards ensuring that the next generations clo not fall into the same pits.
‘This proposal will be a step towards achieving that goal

Hon. Wes Gatch;
Representative
1* District of V:

fenzuela City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
17" CONGRESS

t Regular Session

House Bill No, BEC 2

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

AN ACT
MANDATINGTHE CONTINUOUS EDUCATION
ON ILLEGAL DRUGS BE A PART OF THE CURRICULUM
OF ALL SECONDARY LEVEL STUDENTS BOTH IN
PRIVATE AND IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled;

Section 1.7itle, - This act shall be known as the “Anti-Illegal Drugs Education Act
of 2016."

Section 2.Statement of Policy. ~ This Act is adopted to enable the following
declared State Policies

a. Itis the policy of the State to protect the health of its citizens against the
harmful effects of illegal drugs.

b. It is the policy of the State to apprise its citizens as to the detriments of
Drug Addiction to their physical, economic, spiritual, and social well-
being

©. It is the policy of the State to protect the youth from falling into Drug
Addiction; therefore, it should educate them as to the detriments of usage,
and the penalties for engaging in it whether as a user or a part of the
peddling business.

d, It is the policy of the State that the youth be a part of Nation-building;
therefore, it should provide them with tools that will enable them to
participate in eradicating the Drug Problem in the country.

Section 3.Coverage. -Continuing Education on the Illegal Drugs shall be a
mandatory part of the curriculum of all students enrolled in the secondary level,
both in private and in public schools, A full day per quarter of the school calendar
shall be spent for the purpose of this Act. There shall be a different content
specifically tailored to the year-level the student is enrolled in,

Section 4.Course design.~The Department of Education, in consultation with the
Department of Health and the Department of Justice, shall be charged to develop


the content of the sessions for the purpose of this Act. Such content shall be
specifically tailored to the year of the students, taking into consideration the
average age of the students in that particular year. The contents may include:
Health Detriments, Penal Statutes, Testimonies of Former Addicts, Exposure
‘Trips to Secured Facilities for Addicts, and Such Other Activities or Contents
which in the interest of effecting this Act the Department of Education deems
pertinent

Section 5.Funding, - The funds for the establishment, development of modules,
‘and training of course instructors, shall be provided for in the general
appropriations act of the Department of Education,

Section 6.Transitory Provision, ~ The course shall be integrated in the current
curriculum after one (1) year following the approval of this Act. During the
interim, the Department of Education, pursuant to Section 3 of this Act, shall
undertake the development of the course module, and the training of the
teaching staff charged with the handling of the course. For this purpose, the
Department of Education shall provide trainings, free of charge, for teachers both
in the private and the public sector,

Section 7.Repealing Clause. - All other laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 8.£ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,