REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

8028

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines have been well-endowed with a young population, whose potential if
skillfully developed and managed can boost Philippine competitive
however due to various constraints, we are unable to fully utilize such an abundant resource to
the fullest.

in the years to come,

Among these constraints is the seemingly unending menace of drugs and substance
abuse. Often we hear of news about young people whose lives have been ruined and their
potential, stifled, because of illegal drugs. These unfortunate events could have been prevented,
if only the government is consistent with a pro-active stance to combat this bane of society.

It is often said that prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Be that as it may,
this proposed measure seeks to prevent the youth from falling victim to illegal drugs through a
program that shall educate the youth on the personal and social consequences of drug
dependency and substance abuse. If the government seeks to deter the mass proliferation of
illegal drugs, it must rally the educational institutions, the community, and law enforcement
agencies for such endeavor in order for it to succeed. With such a young population, it is only
fitting that the youth be the focal point of this proposed measure.

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

;ARY C. ALEJANO
Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8028

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
CREATING THE YOUTH DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION AND
PREVENTION PROGRAM AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC. 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the Youth Drug Abuse Resistance
Education and Prevention Program (Y-DARE) Act of 2018.

SEC.2. Purpose.- This Act is enacted for the purpose of providing the youth with the
appropriate skills to avoid opportunities of drag abuse and live productive drug- and violence-
free lives, by helping establish positive relationships between and among students and law
enforcement agencies; teachers; parents and other community leaders.

SEC.3. Implementation.- The Department of Health (DOH) shall take the lead role in
implementing the Youth Drug Abuse Resistance and Prevention Program. The DOH shall
closely coordinate with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and other appropriate agencies in pursuing its mandate under this Act.

‘The DOH shall administer, coordinate and recommend pol
designed to:

a) Provide financial assistance for drug prevention activities and promote the health and
well-being of students in elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher
education; Provided, That these activities may be carried out by the national and local
government educational agencies or by other public and private non-profit
organizations;

and programs that are

b) Participate in the formulation and development of policy and legislative proposals
and in over-all administration policies related to drug prevention, drafting program
regulations;

©) Participate in inter-agency committees, groups and partnerships related to drug
prevention, coordinate with other government agencies on issues related to
comprehensive school health, and advise the Secretary of the DepEd on the
formulation of comprehensive school health education policy;

d) Participate with other government agencies in the development of national research
agenda for drug prevention; and

€) Provide national leadership on issues and programs in correctional education.


The DepEd and CHED shall supervise the following courses of action:

a) Ensure that schools with the help of the community shall be provided an environment
where the youth shall be provided with avenues that shall assist them in achieving
their potential and shall hone their talents;

b) Provide the schools with proper, adequate and effective materials that tackle the
problem of substance abuse and discuss preventive mechanisms to ensure that the
youth will not be lured to try illegal drugs;

©) Develop a safe school plan which provides for (i) a_ mechanism for the reporting of
the sale and use of prohibited drugs and (ii) a procedure that will trigger rehabilitation
efforts of the youth who were reported to have bought or used illegal drugs under
subsection (i) above; and

d) Build effective channels of communication between the school and the parents to
ensure that the educational and/or intervention programs are adequately carried out in
and out of school.

SEC.4. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The DOH and DepEd, in consultation
with the National Youth Commission and local and national organizations that serve the youth
and promote drug prevention shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within 90 days
from the effectivity of this Act.

SECS. Livelihood and Training Programs.- The Youth Drug Abuse Resistance
Education and Prevention Program shall include livelihood and training programs. For this
purpose, the DepEd and other concemed government agencies shall coordinate with the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

SEC.6. Appropriations.- The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall
be taken from the appropriations of the DOH, DepEd and CHED under the General
Appropriations Act.

SEC.7. Separability Clause.- \f any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the other provisions shall remain valid.

SEC.8. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC.9. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication
in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,