REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

929

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN IIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a drug rehabilitation center in every region in the country. The
illegal drug menace is now considered public enemy number one all over the world. It is a
problem which poses a grave threat to a country's national security. In our country, it has
alarmingly penetrated almost all sectors and levels of society including the government,
business, and even law enforcement agencies.

Several government agencies envisioned to lead the government's total war against dangerous
drugs. Laws were passed to encourage the participation of the local government units in both
the prevention and control of the illegal drug menace. In short, our concem is how to
eradicate or prevent the spread of illicit drug traffic in the country.

However, we should not forget that a drug dependent is not a criminal, but a victim who is in
need of medical and psychiatric treatment and can still become a valuable member of society.
In this light, the government should direct its national programs in promoting and sustaining
the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse, especially in the critical after-care
and social reintegration stages. Bringing a person back to the state of being where he can
successfully cope with the physical, psychological, and social demands of family and
community life is one way of helping a sick person become a productive part of the
community.

Itis by the establishment of an accessible rehabilitation center in every region of the country
that we can ensure the speedy recovery from the physical and mental trauma brought about
by dangerous drugs to every drug dependent in the country.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

MANUEL’ HAN UI
Representatis
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 929

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DRUG REHABILITATION
CENTER IN EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Creation. - There shall be established, under the supervision of the
Department of Health, a Drug Rehabilitation Center in every region of the country,
hereinafter referred to as the Center.

SEC. 2. Objectives and Functions. - The Center shall have the following objectives and
functior

(@ To provide care, treatment and accommodation to persons found to be drug
dependents;

(©) To bring a drug dependent to a state where he is physically, psychologically, and
socially capable to cope with problems common to his peer group;

(©) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information
‘on the prevention, care, treatment and control of drug addiction;

(@) To provide after-care, follow-up and social reintegration services to enable a drug
dependent to adjust to family and community life after his release;

(©) To provide each drug dependent the motivation to regain self-confidence, rediscover
his working abilities, and develop a sense of responsibility for himself:

( To encourage the formation of organization and associations composed of parents,
Buardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order to arouse their
awareness and enhance their participation in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of
their relatives found to be drug dependents;

(® To undertake continuous training of physicians, nurses, health officers and social
workers on the practical and scientific methods of prevention, care, treatment and
rehabilitation of persons found to be drug dependents; and


(h) To strengthen the emotional and spiritual make-up of an individual drug dependent by
conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as well as interdenominational
services.

SEC. 3. Site of the Center. - The Secretary of Health, in coordination with the Secretary
of Public Works and Highways, shall, taking into consideration the accessibility of the Center
to its clientele, determine the location thereof.

SEC. 4. Organization. - The Center shall be headed by a Director to be assisted by two
(2) Deputy Directors who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and vested with
powers generally exercised by a Chief and Assistant Chiefs, respectively, of a government
hospital.

No person shall be appointed Director or Deputy Director unless he/she possess the
following qualifications:

(@) At least thirty-five (35) years of age;
(b) A physician of good repute; and

(©) At least five (5) years of experience in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of
drug dependents,

SEC. 5. Personnel and Staff. - The Director shall appoint such other personnel and
staff as may be necessary for the effective operation of the Center subject to existing, laws,
rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. Five-Year Development Plan. - The Center, through its Director, shall be authorized
to embark on a Five-Year Development Plan in the fulfillment of the following:

(@ To establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modern equipment
to serve and cater to drug dependents of the region;

(b) To initiate plans for the development of income generating programs for the ultimate
Purpose of generating resources to provide charity services;

(©) To provide hospital pharmacy services, free dispensaries and health stations; and

(d) To provide educational facilities for interns, and graduate and undergraduate students
of medicine.

SEC. 7. Government Assistance 10 the Center. - The Secretary of Health is hereby
authorized to call upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the government
for such assistance as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act.

SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations. - The Director of the Center is hereby authorized, with the
approval of the Secretary of Health, to promulgate such rules and the effective
implementation ofthe provisions this Act.


Nousune

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The sum necessary for the effective implementation this Act shall
be charged against the appropriations for the Department of Health under the current General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued operation
of the Center shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,