Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF 
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG HIGH-RISK YOUTH 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “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. It shall inculcate in the youth 
patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.” 
The World Health Organization estimates that in the Philippines, an estimated 1.7 
million Filipinos were taking dangerous drugs in 2019.1 The abuse of illegal drugs and 
alcohol has been the cause of hundreds of crimes, accidents, and deaths each year. 
In some cases, sharing of drug paraphernalia can cause the spread of several 
communicable diseases, including HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C. 
The bill mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to create financial assistance 
programs that would assist such organizations in this noble cause, so that the Filipino 
youth may be saved from the harmful effects of substance abuse and become 
competent partners in nation-building. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
1 https://www.who.int/philippines/news/detail/12-11-2021-voluntary-care-model-for-persons-who-use-drugs-
resulted-in-over-90-completion-for-treatment-rate 
January 11, 2023
2:13 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG 
AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG HIGH-RISK YOUTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Saving Young Substance 
Abusers Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in 
Nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social 
wellbeing. 
SECTION 3. "High-Risk Youth" Defined. — For purposes of this Act, the term "high risk 
youth" means an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, who is at high risk 
of becoming, or who has become, a drug abuser or an alcohol abuser, and who — 
(A) Is identified as a child of a substance abuser;
(B) Is a victim of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse;
(C) Does not attend school;
(D) Has become pregnant;
(E) Is economically disadvantaged;
(F)Has committed a violent or delinquent act; 
(G) Has experienced mental health problems;
(H) Has attempted suicide;
(l) Has experienced long-term physical pain due to injury;
(J)Has experienced chronic failure in school; 
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(K) Is from a broken family; 
(L) Is a child laborer; 
(M) Is a street child or street gang member, or (N) Lives in conflict areas? 
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SECTION 4. Grants to Public and Nonprofit Private Entities. — The Secretary of the 
Department of Health shall make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for 
projects to demonstrate effective models for the prevention, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of drug abuse and alcohol abuse among high-risk youth. 
SECTION. 5. Priority of Projects. - 
(A)In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse prevention projects, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects directed at children 
of substance abusers, children at risk of abuse or neglect, preschool 
children, children at risk of dropping out of school, children at risk of 
becoming adolescent parents, children who do not attend school, child 
laborers, street children, and children who are at risk of being unemployed. 
(B)In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse treatment and 
rehabilitation projects, the Secretary shall give priority to projects which 
address the relationship between drug abuse or alcohol abuse and physical 
child abuse, sexual child abuse, emotional child abuse, dropping out of 
school, unemployment, delinquency, pregnancy, violence, suicide, or mental 
health problems. 
(C) In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to 
applications from community-based organizations for projects: 
(I) To develop innovative models with multiple coordinated services 
for the prevention or the treatment and rehabilitation of drug 
abuse or alcohol abuse by high-risk youth. 
(2) To demonstrate effective models with multiple coordinated 
services that may be replicated and which are for the prevention 
or for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abuse or alcohol 
abuse by high-risk youth. 


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(3) That employ research designs adequate for evaluating the 
effectiveness of the program. 
SECTION 6. Strategies for Reducing Use. — The Secretary shall ensure that 
projects under Section 4 include strategies for reducing the use of alcoholic 
beverages and tobacco products by individuals to whom it is unlawful to sell or 
distribute such beverages or products. 
SECTION 7. Equal Distribution of Grants. — To the extent feasible, the Secretary 
shall ensure the equal distribution of grants under this Act among urban and rural 
areas. 
SECTION 8. Application for Grants. — To receive a grant for a project 
under this Act for a fiscal year, a public or nonprofit private entity shall apply to the 
Secretary. The Secretary may provide the provincial governor or 
the city mayor the opportunity to review and comment on such applications. Such 
application shall be in such form, shall contain such information, and shall be 
submitted at such time as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, 
The executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule, or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,