FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regnlar Session 
) 
SEN~l{" 
S. No. " 'ti5 
Introdnced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 provides: 
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The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and 
shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
social well-being. 
In order to ensure our youth's physical, intellectual and social well-being and 
development, it is necessary to recognize potential pitfalls and dangers. The stress of coping 
with academic requirements, parental expectations, peer pressure, and overwhelming curiosity 
can and have made students vulnerable to substance abuse. 
Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. Tobacco use leads 
most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor 
for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COP D) (including emphysema 
and chronic bronchitis), and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, 
and pancreatic cancer). 
Alcohol use contributes to a wide range of diseases, health conditions and high-risk 
behaviours, from mental disorders and road traffic injuries, to liver diseases and unsafe sexual 
behaviour. 
Drug abuse is as a well-known serious issue that carries great social and economic costs 
through its impacts on crime and health. 
Undoubtedly, most schools have their own disciplinary measures imposed upon a student 
caught with tobacco, alcohol or drugs; most of these measures are variations of suspension or 
expUlsion of the erring student. However, very few schools have the funds or competence to 
save the child through accessing professional help. 
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This bill seeks to create and institutionalize a national alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse 
program which shall be implemented within all high schools, colleges and universities. Each 
school shall establish a comprehensive program of prevention, intervention, referral for 
evaluation, referral for treatment and continuity of care for student alcohol, tobacco and other 
drug abuse. 
Staying clean and sober can be a constant st1'Llggle; hence, it is important to surround our 
children with responsible and caring adults who are trained to avert a crisis. Since children 
spend a considerable amount of time within school grounds, the campus can be the best venue 
for intervention, where each individual student can be guided towards seeking the treatment most 
appropriate to his or her needs. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
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Ute -7 P2 :29 
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SENATE 
S. No. 3085 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO 
AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS IN EVERY SCHOOL 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Stay Clean and Soher Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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ensure the social, physical and mental health and development of our youth and address 
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substance abuse problems within school campuses. 
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SECTION 3. Establishment of the Stay Clean and Sober Program. - The state, through 
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the Department of Education (DepED), and in coordination with the Commission on Higher 
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Education (CHED), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Dangerous Drugs Board, shall 
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establish a comprehensive program of prevention, intervention, referral for evaluation, referral 
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for treatment and continuity of care for student alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse in all 
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secondary schools, colleges and lmiversities. 
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SECTION 4. Prevention Component. - The purpose of the prevention component of the 
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program shall be to: 
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(A) Keep students from using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs; 
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(B) Reduce or eliminate the incidence and prevalence of student alcohol, tobacco and 
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other drug abuse; 
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(C) Increase the age of onset of students' tirst use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs; 
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(D) Reduce the factors that place students at risk for involvement with alcohol, tobacco 
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01' other drugs through school and community-based planning processes; 
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(E) Contribute to the development of school environments and alternative activities that 
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are alcohol, tobacco and other drug-free; 
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(F) Increase the knowledge and skills of students, staff and commwlity members for 
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avoiding the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; and 
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(G) Actively involve staff, parents and other community members in the development 
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and implementation of prevention program plans. 
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SECTION 5. Intervention, Referral for Evaluation and Referral for Treatment 
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Component. - The purpose of the intervention, referral for evaluation and referral for treatment 
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components of the program shall be to: 
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(A) Identify students who are at risk for, or who have exhibited, alcohol, tobacco or other 
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drug abuse or related problems; 
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(B) Help students or their parents who have requested assistance for alcohol, tobacco or 
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other drug abuse problem:,;; 
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(C) Make a preliminary assessment of a student's need for educational programs, 
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supportive services or treatment which extends beyond the general school program by 
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virtue of the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs by the student or the student's 
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parents; 
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(D) Refer students for evaluation to make a positive determination regarding a student's 
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need for alcohol, tobacco or other drug treatment; and 
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(E) Help a student or a student's parents follow through on the recommendations of an 
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evaluation which has positively determined the harmful use of alcohol, tobacco or 
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other drugs by the student or the student's parents. 
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SECTION 6. Continuity of Care Component. - The purpose of the continuity of care 
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component of the program shall be to: 
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(A) Assist with the provision of educational programs and services for students m 
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treatment; and 
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(B) Plan and provide supportive services for students who are returning from treatment. 
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SECTION 7. Training of Educational Staff. - The DepED and CHED shall ensure that all 
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members of the educational statT shal1 receive in-service training in alcohol, tobacco and other 
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drug abuse prevention and intervention. 
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SECTION 8. Substance Awareness Coordinators. - The program shall have substance 
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awareness coordinators who shall assist schools in the effective implementation of the program. 
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SECTION 9. Programs for Parents. - Educational programs on alcohol, tobacco and 
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other dl'l1g abuse for parents shall be established and offered at times and places convenient to 
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the parents of enrolled students. 
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SECTION 10. Confidentiality of student alcohol and other drug information. - Each 
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school shall assure compliance with the following confidentiality requirements: 
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I. Confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records; and 
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2. Confidentiality of information provided by an elementary or secondary school student 
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while participating in a school-based dl'l1g and alcohol counseling program which 
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indicates that the student's parent or other person residing in the student's household is 
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dependent upon or illegally using substances. 
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SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DepED, CHED and 
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DOH shall promulgate the IRR within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 12. Appropriations. -
To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Stay Clean and Sober 
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Program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DepED. 
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SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lacs 
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