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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS Q iN
First Regular Session
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House Bill no Sl?4 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill is written on the premise that drug-related issues should be addressed using a
holistic approach. The process of eradicating the drug problem starts with prevention and
ends with finding permanent solutions to move rehabilitated individuals away from the
influence of drugs and chances of relapse. Instead of penalizing them, actions and measures
should be taken to lead drug users and rehabilitated individuals towards a healthier life and a
full recovery.

Drug relapse is a real problem amongst rehabilitated individuals. In the 2014 Statistics
presented by the Dangerous Drugs Board, eighteen per cent (18%) or 772 out of 4,392
admissions in rehabilitation facilities are relapsed cases. Thus, there is a need to strengthen
social reintegration measures for full and successful recovery of rehabilitated individuals.
Social reintegration is not simply returning back to his/her family nor re-entering the
community. It involves the interplay of several factors: acceptance as a rehabilitated
individual by the people in his/her immediate community, a viable environment and nurturing
institutions.

In this proposed measure, we are providing an avenue for the intervention of several
government agencies to hamess the potential of rehabilitated individuals by being self-
sufficient and productive members of the community. Likewise, this bill emphasizes that
effective monitoring of rehabilitated individuals is key to achieving a drug-free society and
successful recovery. A monitoring team shall be formed to conduct regular evaluation to
detect problems relative to the full recovery of rehabilitated individuals. Finally, taking note
of the stigma of drug abuse, the bill also incorporates non-discriminatory policies to protect
rehabilitated individuals from economic societal exclusion.

In view of the foregoing, this bill seeks to provide social reintegration and monitoring
of rehabilitated individuals.

He feu
REP. CHRISTOPHER V.P. DE VENECIA
Fourth District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3171

Introduced by Rep. Christopher V.P de Venecia

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE SOCIAL REINTEGRATION AND MONITORING OF
REHABILITATED INDIVIDUALS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC. 1. Declaration of Policy. Pursuant to Article II, Section 16 of the 1987
Constitution, the State “shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” In view thereof, the
State shall create an enabling environment that develops the potential of its people and fosters
a society that is free from any forms of discrimination. Furthermore, the State shall nurture
the growth of its people and build mechanisms that are oriented towards making them
productive members of the country, Educational, vocational and artistic training programs
must be available since drug use often begins during youth and disrupts formal education,
consequently depriving drug users of the skills necessary to obtain jobs.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a.) Dangerous Drugs include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 1961 Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and in the Schedules
annexed to the 1971 Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the
attached annex which is an integral part of Republic Act No. 9165 (RA 9165), otherwise
known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”.

b.) Drug Addiction refers to a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive drug
seeking despite harmful consequences. Intake of dangerous drugs, as defined in the previous
subsection, alters the normal functioning of the brain leading to adverse change of behaviour,
vulnerability and drug dependency.

©.) Discrimination refers to any gesture, expression, word, or activity by any person
or entity that is directed to the exclusion or distinction of an individual. This shall also
include a persor |, and deprivation of access to services by any institution
or entity.

rejection, refi

d) Rehabilitated Individuals refer to any person who has completed rehabilitation
treatment, assessed by the health practitioners to have fully recovered from drug dependence,
and obtained a valid exit clearance from the rehabilitation facility


€.) Social Cooperative refers to a group of individuals who initiate entrepreneurial
and commercial activities that are driven by a social aim.

£) Social Enterprise Business refers to revenue-generating businesses that seek to
environmental and social needs such as, but not limited to, providing opportunities
isadvantaged people.

g.) Social Reintegration refers to any form intervention with the aim of successfully
integrating rehabilitated individuals into the community.

h,)_ Use refers to any act of injecting, intravenously or intramuscularly, of consuming,
either by chewing. smoking, sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking ot otherwise introducing
into the physiological system of the body, of dangerous drugs.

SEC. 3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment, and Learning (MEAL) Program.
The MEAL program involves a regular and systematic way of examining the progress of
rehabilitated individuals in rehabilitation centers. This shall include measures such as, but not
limited to, regular visitation, establishing a helpdesk, and random drug testing to ensure that
rehabilitated individuals are making progress. It is also intended to detect problems so that
remedial measures can be done.

SEC. 4. Formation of Monitoring Team. — There shall be a monitoring team in every
rehabilitation center which shall be formed under the supervision of the Department of Health
(DOH) to implement the MEAL Program. The number of members shall be proportional to
the admittance capacity of the rehabilitation center. upon the recommendation of DOH. Their
salary shall be charged against the budget allocation of the DOH.

SEC. 5. Creating Employment Opportunities. — Returning back to their normal lives
require finding sustainable means to provide for their needs. With that, there shall be
employment opportunities available for rehabilitated individuals such as, but not limited to,
the job vacancies that can be provided by social cooperatives, social enterprise businesses,
and pay-for-work schemes.

Formation of social cooperatives and social enterprise businesses shall be encouraged
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through partnership,
sponsorship, subsidy and tax incentives. The said implementing agencies shall develop
guidelines for the application, admission, and allocation of funds for the aforementioned
employment institutions.

SEC. 6. Educational, Artistic and Vocational Training. — The Department of
Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall design a program to
complement rehabilitated individuals’ transformation, centering on values formation,
personality development, among others, that would increase one’s self-worth.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall provide
skills raining programs that would match the abilities of rehabilitated individuals to equip
them for jobs necessary to attain self-sufficiency and financial independence


The National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) shall provide artistic
opportunities where rehabilitated individuals can make efficient use of their energy, enable
them to freely express their emotions, and develop their talents

‘The National
enhance health and ph

ports Commission (NSC) shall develop engaging programs that would
ical aptitude of rehabilitated individuals.

SEC. 7. Non-discrimination. — Rehabilitated individuals
any of the following discriminatory acts:

all not be subjected to

1, Educational Institutions shall not deprive rehabilitated individuals of education on
the basis of their past medical record:

2. Employment institutions shall not reject rehabilitated individuals on the basis of
their past medical record;
3. Local government officials shall not deprive rehabilitated individuals any benefits

allocated for the constituents;

4. Law enforcers shall apply due process in re-apprehension of rehabilitated
individuals; and

Any other discriminatory act against rehabilitated individuals.

SEC. 8. Penalty. — Any person or entity found guilty of any form of discrimination
against rehabilitated individuals shall be penalized accordingly. Formulation of the policy
thereof shall be headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of the DOH, in
coordination with DSWD, DTI, DEPED, CHED, TESDA, NCCA and NSC shall issue the
Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriation of Funds. — The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be charged from the budget allocation of the following departments and
agencies: DOH, DSWD, DTI, DEPED, CHED, TESDA, NCCA and NSC. Thereafter, such
amounts necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid
and subsisting,

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause, — All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, of parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly

SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,