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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a drug rehabilitation center in every region of 
the country. 
The Dangerous Drugs Board reported that 1.7 million people are addicted 
to illegal drugs in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement 
Agency, more than 8,000 barangays, or 92% of barangays in Metro Manila, are 
said to be drug-affected. This prevalence leads to drug-related health problems, 
loss of employment, increased school dropout, domestic violence, the 
commission of more crimes, and worse, death. Not only are the numbers and 
reports alarming, but drug addiction also magnifies more significant social 
dilemmas and hampers economic growth and social development. 
The current administration centers its campaign on crime suppression 
and eradicating the drug trade. There are existing government and private 
sector-operated rehabilitation facilities for the users that offer their rehabilitation 
programs and services, but most are inaccessible and expensive. In addition, 
families in the province cannot meet the cost of placing their drug-dependent 
relatives in private rehabilitation centers.  
This bill seeks to broaden the coverage of drug treatment and recovery 
programs for drug dependents by establishing a drug rehabilitation center in 
every region. This bill also provides for possible cooperation between private 
people’s organizations or religious organizations and the government, through 
the Department of Health, to manage and operate rehabilitation centers. 
The rehabilitation process is not just about treating the physical and 
mental state of the drug dependent. It also requires emotional preparation, 
psychological introspection, gradual social reintegration, and a post-monitoring 
mechanism to ensure permanent self-rediscovery and continued productivity. 
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3:39 pm
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Therefore, this representation respectfully calls for the immediate passage of this 
bill to start this comprehensive process of changing lives and bringing drug 
dependents back to their families and community.  
 
Through this bill, drug dependents will have a more significant opportunity 
for rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into the community. With 
appropriate public-private sector partnerships, we can collectively help drug 
victims get back on track and pursue life aspirations that temporarily took a 
backseat. 
 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DRUG REHABILITATION 
CENTER IN EVERY REGION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:     
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SECTION 1. 
Regional Drug Rehabilitation Center. – There shall 
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be a drug rehabilitation center in every region in the country which shall be 
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under the supervision of the Department of Health. 
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SEC. 2.  Objectives and Functions. – Each regional drug rehabilitation 
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center shall exercise the following objectives and functions: 
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a) Provide care, treatment and accommodation to persons funds to be drug
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dependents;
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b) Train the drug dependent to be physically, psychologically and socially
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capable of coping with problems common to peer groups;
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c) Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and
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information on the prevention, care, treatment and control of drug
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addiction;
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d) Provide after-care, follow-up and social reintegration services to enable
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the drug dependent to adjust to family and community life after release;
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e) Provide each drug dependent motivation to regain self-confidence, 
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rediscover working abilities and develop a sense of responsibility; 
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f) Encourage the formation of organizations and association composed of 
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parents, guardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order 
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to raise awareness and enhance their participation in the care, treatment 
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and rehabilitation of their relatives or wards; 
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g) Undertake continuous training of the physicians, nurses, health officers 
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and social workers on the practical and scientific methods of prevention, 
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care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons founds to be drug 
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dependents; and 
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h) Strengthen the emotional and spiritual make-up of an individual drug 
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dependent by conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as 
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well as interdenominational church services. 
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SEC 3. Location of Drug Rehabilitation Centers. – The Secretary of 
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Health shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Public Works and Highways, 
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determine the location of each regional drug rehabilitation center taking into 
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consideration the accessibility of these facilities to most of drug dependents. 
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SEC 4. Organization. – Each regional drug rehabilitation center shall be 
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headed by a director and two (2) deputy directors who shall be appointed by the 
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Secretary of Health and vested with powers generally exercised by a chief and 
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assistant chiefs, respectively, of a government hospital. 
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SEC 5. Qualifications. – The director or deputy director must possess the 
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following qualifications: 
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a) At least thirty-five (35) years of age; 
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b) A physician of good reputation; and 
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c) At least five (5) years experience in the care, treatment and rehabilitation 
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of drug dependents. 
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SEC 6. Personnel and Staff. – The director shall appoint such other 
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personnel and staff as may be necessary for the effective operation of the regional 
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drug rehabilitation center subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations. 
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SEC 7. Five-Year Development Plan. – Each regional drug rehabilitation 
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center, through its director, shall be authorized to embark on a five-year 
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development plan in the fulfillment of the following: 
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a) Establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modern 
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equipment to serve and cater to drug dependents of the region; 
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b) Initiate plans for the development of income generating programs for the 
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ultimate purpose of generating resources to provide charity services;   
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c) Provide hospital pharmacy services, free dispensaries and health 
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stations; and 
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d) Provide 
educational 
facilities 
for 
interns 
and 
graduate 
and 
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undergraduate students of medicine. 
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SEC 8. Government Assistance. – The Secretary of Health is hereby 
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authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of 
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the government for such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement 
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this Act. 
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SEC 9. Public-Private Partnership. – The Secretary of Health is hereby 
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authorized to enter into agreements with people’s organizations or religious 
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organizations for the management and operation of regional drug rehabilitation 
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centers at no additional cost to the government. 
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SEC 10. Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Health, in coordination 
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with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall promulgate such rules and 
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regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the 
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provisions of this Act.  
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SEC 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation 
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of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the 
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Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the 
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continued operation of the regional drug rehabilitation centers shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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