REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7672

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

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 concer 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.

It is 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.

x

tY/C. ALEJANO
Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. _'76'72

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

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
functions:

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

(b) 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,
guardians 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;

(g) 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:
(a) 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:

(a) To establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modem 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

(@) To provide educational facilities for interns, and graduate and undergraduate students of
medicine.
SEC. 7. Government Assistance to 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 of the provisions this Act.

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,