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Republic of the Philippines pane)" 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES yy... 3)

Quezon City 8

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

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House BILL no!

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES RODOLFO C. FARINAS,
PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ, ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.,
MICHAEL JOHN R. DUAVIT, CARLOS O. COJUANGCO, ELISA T. KHO,
RANEO E. ABU, BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON, KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES,
DANILO E. SUAREZ, and RODEL M. BATOCABE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a drug rehabilitation center
in every region in 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 leads to drug-related health problems, loss of employment,
increase in school dropout, domestic violence, commission of more crimes, and
worse, death. Not only are the numbers and reports alarming, drug addiction
magnifies greater social dilemmas, which significantly hamper economic growth and
social development.

The current administration centers its campaign on crime suppression and
eradication of the drug trade. For the users, there are existing government and
private sector-operated rehabilitation facilities that offer their rehabilitation programs
and services, but most are inaccessible and definitely expensive. Families in the
provinces 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, for the management and operation of rehabilitation centers.

The process of rehabilitation 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 that will
ensure permanent self-rediscovery and continued productivity. This representation
respectfully calls for the immediate passage of this bill to start this comprehensive
process of changing lives and bringing the drug dependents back to their families
and community.

Through this bill, drug dependents will have a greater opportunity for
rehabilitation and eventual reintegration to the community. With appropriate public-
private sector partnerships, we can collectively help drug victims get right back on
track and pursue life aspirations that temporarily took a backseat.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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PANTALEON D, AREZ R@DOLFO C. FARINAS

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ROLA| \G. ANDAYA, JR. tino R. DUAVIT
LL Q . Efoguvnger td
c co, ‘0 ELISA T. KHO
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NEO E. ABU .. SALIMBANGON

DANILO E. SUAREZ |. BATOCABE

KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILLNG)! 03

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES RODOLFO C. FARINAS,
PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ, ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.,
MICHAEL JOHN R. DUAVIT, CARLOS O. COJUANGCO, ELISA T. KHO,
RANEO E. ABU, BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON, KARLO ALEXEI B. NOGRALES,
DANILO E. SUAREZ, and RODEL M. BATOCABE

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:

SECTION 1. Regional Drug Rehabilitation Center. — There shall be a drug
rehabilitation center in every region in the country which shall be under the
supervision of the Department of Health.

SEC 2. Objectives and Functions. - Each regional drug rehabilitation
center shall exercise the following objectives and functions:

a) Provide care, treatment and accommodation to persons found to be
drug dependents;

b) Train the drug dependent to be physically, psychologically and socially
capable of coping with problems common to peer groups;

©) Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and
information on the prevention, care, treatment and control of drug addiction;

d) Provide after-care, follow-up and social reintegration services to enable
the drug dependent to adjust to family and community life after release;

) Provide each drug dependent motivation to regain self-confidence,
rediscover working abilities and develop a sense of responsibility;


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f) Encourage the formation of organizations and association composed of
parents, guardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order to raise
awareness and enhance their participation in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of
their relatives or wards;

g) Undertake continuous training of the 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) Strengthen the emotional and spiritual make-up of an individual drug
dependent by conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as well as
interdenominational church services.

SEC 3 Locationof Drug Rehabilitation Centers. — The Secretary of
Health shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Public Works and Highways,
determine the location of each regional drug rehabilitation center taking into
consideration the accessibility of these facilities to most of drug dependents.

SEC 4. Organization. — Each regional drug rehabilitation center shall
be headed by a director and 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.

SEC 5. Qualifications. The director or deputy director must possess
the following qualifications:

a) Atleast thirty-five (35) years of age;

b) _ Aphysician of good reputation; and

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

SEC 6. Personnel and Staff. — The director shall appoint such other
personnel and staff as may be necessary for the effective operation of the regional
drug rehabilitation center subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

SEC 7. Five-Year Development Plan. — Each regional drug
rehabilitation center, through its director, shall be authorized to embark on a five-year
development plan in the fulfilment of the following:

a) Establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modern
equipment to serve and cater to drug dependents of the region;

b) __ Initiate plans for the development of income generating programs for
the ultimate purpose of generating resources to provide charity services;

c) Provide hospital pharmacy services, free dispensaries and health
stations; and

d) Provide educational facilities for interns and graduate and
undergraduate students of medicine.


SEC 8. Government Assistance. — 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 9 Public-Private Partnership. - The Secretary of Health is
hereby authorized to enter into agreements with people's organizations or religious
organizations for the management and operation of regional drug rehabilitation
centers at no additional cost to the government.

SEC 10. Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of Health, in
coordination with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency and Department of Social Welfare and Development, shall promulgate such
rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of the
provisions of this Act.

SEC 11. Appropriations The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the
Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the
continued operation of the regional drug rehabilitation centers shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

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

SEC 13. _Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.