EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 658
of tlif feftrrtaif
*19 JUL22 P2«5
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
RECEi/.DL
AN ACT
CREATING A REHABILITATION CENTER FOR JUVENILE RUGBY OSERS, 
PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR1
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article n, Section 3 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 2, 
subparagraph (a) of Republic Act No. 9344 recognizes that children have a role in 
nation building and it is the State's duty to promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. In line with this and considering the current 
drug problem in the Philippines, it is imperative that the State also rehabilitates those 
children who, because of poverty or poor state of mind, have resorted to drugs.
According to the Dangerous Drugs Board, rugby, a contact cement used as an 
adhesive, is one the top three drugs of choice of Filipino drug users because of its 
accessibility and affordability. While there are available rehabilitation programs for 
children in conflict with the law who are found to be drug users, there is a lack thereof 
for juvenile rugby users.
Chronic inhalation of rugby is detrimental to one's health and if not rehabilitated 
or restored, can have permanent repercussions to one's brain and nervous system 
among others.
Given the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is sought.
RAMO^BONG REVILLA, JR.


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBUC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
s. No. 658
< 0 ;  
^ c iw tD
€>ffitp cf tlij fei'crc6iii»
■19 JUL 22 P2«5
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
RrXi.,,.vLt.
AN ACT
CREATING A REHABILITATION CENTER FOR JUVENILE RUGBY USERS, 
PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Rugby Boys Act of
2019.'
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It shall be the policy of the State as parens 
patriae to take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social 
and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and 
psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to 
prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances. 
The State shall rehabilitate and restore the children to their healthy mental and 
physical state who have been users of the substance called rugby.
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  The following terms as used in this Act shall be 
defined as follows:
(a) "Child" refers to a person under the age of eighteen (18) years old.
(b) "Bahay Malaya" refers to the 24-hour rehabilitation center for juvenile rugby 
users operated by the Department of Health.
(c) "Rugby" refers to the contact cement product which contains Toluene which 
is a substance listed in Table II of the 1988 U.N. Convention against Illicit Traffic in 
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
(d) "Best Interest of the Child" refers to the totality of the circumstances and 
conditions which are most congenial to the survival, protection and feelings of security


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Of the Child and most encouraging to the child's physical, psychological and emotional 
development. It also means the least detrimental available alternative for safeguarding 
the growth and development of the child.
(e) "Parents" refers to the biological parent or adoptive parent or individuals 
who have custody of the child.
(f) "Neglected child" as defined in Presidential Decree No. 603 refers to a child 
whose basic needs have been deliberately unattended or inadequately attended. 
There is a physical neglect when the child is malnourished, ill-clad and without proper 
shelter. A child is unattended when left by himself without provisions for his needs 
and/or without proper supervision.
Sec. 4. Creation o f Bahay Malaya. -  Every province and city shall have a 
rehabilitation center for juvenile rugby users. Said center shall be built and funded by 
the local government unit involved and operated by the Department of Health. The 
programs implemented by the Department of Health shall be funded by itself. These 
juvenile rugby users shall undergo proper specialized medical treatments or programs 
that will allow them to recover from rugby addiction or rugby use and restore them 
from the effects of inhaling rugby.
Sec. 4. Admission to the Bahay Maiaya. -  When a child is caught inhaling rugby 
or using rugby for the first time, he shall be mandated to join an initial conference at 
the Bahay Malaya with his parents.
If a child is caught for the second time or more, he shall be admitted to the 
rehabilitation program in Bahay Malaya. A child shall only be admitted to the Bahay 
Malaya for his rehabilitation when a child's parent has given his consent; Provided 
that consent is not needed when a civil servant of the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development deems such admission is warranted or one of the child's parent is 
also a user of rugby; Provided further, that the admission to Bahay Malaya is for the 
best interest of the child.
Sec. 5. Parental Responsibility. -  The parents of the juvenile rugby user are 
mandated to undergo counselling or any other intervention as the DSWD civil servant 
deems necessary in advancing the best interest of the child.


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Parents of juvenile rugby user who are deemed neglected upon intervention of 
the DSWD, shall be penalized with imprisonment of two (2) weeks to not more than 
six (6) months.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days, the 
Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local 
Government, and Department of Social Welfare and Development shall formulate the 
rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 7. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to build and establish Bahay 
Malaya as stated in this Act shall be shouldered by the LGU concerned. For the 
operation 
of 
Bahay 
Malaya, 
the 
amount 
of one 
hundred 
million 
pesos 
(P100,000,000.00) shall be appropriated to the Department of Health.
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. EffectMty. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,