TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
viDiir::’ 3* t1 '
)
SENATE
S. No. 1041
25 AUG-6 P2:13
mm/r.o sv-
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT 
OF 2002", AS AMENDED, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Substance abuse continues to pose a serious public health and social challenge 
in the Philippines. While the government has intensified its campaign against illegal 
drugs, the need to strengthen the rehabilitation and reintegration aspects of this effort 
remains urgent. An effective and humane anti-drug strategy must not only focus on 
enforcement but also ensure that persons struggling with addiction are given real 
opportunities for recovery and reintegration into society.
This measure seeks to enhance the government's drug rehabilitation programs 
by amending Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous 
Drugs Act of 2002." The bill aims to institutionalize and expand access to evidence- 
based, community-centered, and health-driven rehabilitation programs, while 
ensuring sufficient funding and inter-agency coordination for sustained 
implementation.


Filed by Senator Grace Poe in the 19th Congress, this measure recognizes the 
dignity of every person and the importance of second chances.
By strengthening rehabilitation mechanisms, the bill not only helps those 
suffering from substance abuse regain control of their lives, but also supports families, 
eases the burden on the justice system, and builds safer communities. This legislative 
measure is an important step toward a more effective and compassionate anti-drug 
strategy.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
jLJL
JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. No. 1041
of t,' •
25 AUG-6 P2:13
RHCEiVcD 3’ ■
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT 
OF 2002", AS AMENDED, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 75, Article VIII or Republic Act No. 9165 is hereby amended
2 
to read as follows:
3 
"Section 75. Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers. -
4 
The existing treatment and rehabilitation centers for drug
5 
dependents operated and maintained by the NBI and the PNP
6 
shall be operated, maintained and managed by the DOH in
7 
coordination with other concerned agencies. For the purpose
8 
of enlarging the network of centers, the Board through the
9 
DOH, shall encourage, promote or whenever feasible, assist
10 
or support in the establishment, operations and maintenance
11 
of private centers which shall be eligible to receive grants,
12 
donations or subsidy from either government or private
13 
sources. It shall also support the establishment of


1 
government- operated regional treatment and rehabilitation
2 
centers [depending upon the availability of funds].
3 
"The national government, through its appropriate
4 
agencies shall give priority funding for the increase of subsidy
5 
to existing government drug rehabilitation centers, and shall
6 
establish at least one (1) DOH-ADMINISTERED drug
7 
rehabilitation center in each province[7] AND HIGHLY
8 
URBANIZED CITY IN THE COUNTRY [depending on the
9 
availability of funds],
10 
Sec. 2. A new Section 75-A is hereby inserted under Article VIII of Republic
11 
Act No. 9165 and shall read as follows:
12 
"SECTION 75-A. FUNCTIONS OF DRUG
13 
REHABILITATION CENTERS. - DRUG
14 
REHABILITATION CENTERS, WHETHER PRIVATE OR
15 
PUBLIC, SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:
16 
"A) TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE,
17 
EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, ACCOMMODATION,
18 
AND GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO
19 
PERSONS FOUND TO BE DRUG USERS;
20 
"B) TO ENSURE THAT DRUG USERS WILL NOT
21 
GO BACK INTO DRUG USE AND DEPENDENCE;
22 
"C) TO EMPOWER DRUG USERS TO REGAIN
23 
THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE
24 
NEGATIVE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF
25 
SUBSTANCE ABUSE;
26 
"D) TO INVOLVE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY
27 
MEMBERS IN THE REHABILITATION OF DRUG USERS
28 
SO AS TO FACILITATE THE MENDING OF SOCIAL
29 
BONDS WHICH HAVE BEEN DESTROYED DUE TO LONG
30 
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PROVIDE A SUPPORT
31 
NETWORK FOR DRUG USERS BEYOND THE
32 
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PERIOD; AND


1 
"E) TO PROVIDE AFTER-CARE, FOLLOW-UP,
2 
AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION SERVICES TO ENABLE
3 
A PREVIOUS DRUG DEPENDENT TO ADJUST TO
4 
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE AFTER HIS RELEASE."
5 
Sec. 3. A new Section 75-B is hereby inserted under Article VIII of Republic
6 
Act No. 9165 and shall read as follows:
7 
"SECTION 75-B. ORGANIZATION AND
8 
STAFFING. - EACH CENTER SHALL BE HEADED BY ONE
9 
DIRECTOR TO BE ASSISTED BY AT LEAST THREE (3)
10 
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS FOR OUTPATIENT OR
11 
INPATIENT CARE, ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE,
12 
DEPENDING ON SERVICE TYPE AND CAPACITY, WHO
13 
SHALL ALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF
14 
HEALTH. THE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS
15 
SHALL HAVE THE GENERAL POWERS EXERCISED BY A
16 
CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEFS, RESPECTIVELY, OF A
17 
GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL.
18 
"NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR
19 
OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR UNLESS HE OR SHE IS A
20 
CITIZEN AND RESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES; A
21 
PHYSICIAN OF GOOD STANDING WITH AT LEAST
22 
THREE (3) YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE CARE,
23 
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG USERS;
24 
AND MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A CANDIDATE FOR ANY
25 
ELECTIVE NATIONAL OR LOCAL OFFICE IN THE
26 
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ELECTIONS, WHETHER
27 
REGULAR OR SPECIAL. THE DOH MAY ISSUE
28 
ADITIONAL GUIDELINES ON THE QUALIFICATIONS
29 
OF THE DIRECTORS OF CENTERS PURSUANT TO
30 
SECTION 76 (10) OF THIS ACT.
31 
"THE DIRECTOR SHALL APPOINT OTHER STAFF
32 
AS MAY BE NECESSARY SUBJECT TO GUIDELINES


1 
ISSUED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 76
2 
(10) OF THIS ACT.
3 
"THE SALARIES AND EMOLUMENTS OF THE
4 
DIRECTORS AND ALL PERSONNEL OF CENTERS SHALL
5 
BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAWS, AND RULES AND
6 
REGULATIONS ON SALARY STANDARDIZATION."
7 
Sec. 4. Section 76, Article VIII of Republic Act No. 9165 is hereby amended to
8 
read as follows:
9 
"Section 76. The Duties and Responsibilities of the
10 
Department of health (DOH) under this Act - The DOH shall:
11 
"(1) XXX
12 
"x X X
13 
"(7) IDENTIFY 
THE LOCATION, TYPE 
AND
14 
SERVICE CAPACITY OF THE DOH-ADMINISTERED
15 
DRUG REHABILITATION CENTERS TO BE
16 
CONSTRUCTED ON A CASE TO CASE BASIS, AFTER
17 
PRIOR SUFFICIENT CONSULTATION WITH THE
18 
CONCERNED LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND
19 
COMMUNITIES;
20 
"(8) DEVELOP A WORKFORCE PLAN FOR THE
21 
CONTINUOUS PROVISION OF MEDICAL
22 
TOXICOLOGISTS AND OTHER NECESSARY MEDICAL
23 
STAFF;
24 
"(9) PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
25 
ASSISTANCE TO THE STAFF OF DRUG
26 
REHABILITATION CENTERS, WHETHER PUBLIC OR
27 
PRIVATE; AND
28 
"(10) PROMULGATE GUIDELINES 
ON THE
29 
ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING OF DOH-
30 
ADMINISTERED REHABILITATION CENTERS, IN
31 
COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET


1 
AND MANAGEMENT AND OTHER CONCERNED
2 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES."
3 
Sec. 5. A new Section 76-A is hereby inserted under Article VIII of Republic Act
4 
No. 9165 and shall read as follows:
5 
"SECTION 76-A. BENEFIT PACKAGE FOR
6 
REHABILITATION AND DETOXIFICATION. - THE
7 
PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION
8 
SHALL DESIGN BENEFIT PACKAGES FOR
9 
REHABILITATION, 
TREATMENT 
AND
10 
DETOXIFICATION OF DRUG DEPENDENTS AND SHALL
11 
ISSUE GUIDELINES THEREOF. THE BENEFIT PACKAGE
12 
SHALL COVER:
13 
"A) ROOM AND BOARD;
14 
"B) SERVICES OF HEALTH CARE
15 
PROFESSIONALS; AND
16 
"C) PRESCRPTION DRUGS, SUBJECT TO
17 
SECTION 37 OF THIS ACT."
18 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
19 
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter,
20 
such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
21 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
22 
Grants, donations, and endowments from domestic and foreign sources,
23 
pursuant to existing laws and regulations, may be used to augment the sources of
24 
funding identified under Article X, Sec. 87 of Republic Act N. 9165. All income
25 
generated from the operation of centers shall be retained by the DOH and shall be
26 
used to augment the centers' Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures and
27 
Capital Outlay: Provided, That the said amount shall not be used or realigned for the
28 
payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits.
29 
Sec. 7. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health, in
30 
consultation with the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Department of Interior and Local
31 
Government, the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare and
32 
Development, and the Philippine National Police, shall promulgate the rules and


1 
regulations for the implementation of this Act no later than thirty (30) days after its
2 
effectivity.
3 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held
4 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
5 
full force and effect.
6 
Sec, 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations
7 
inconsistent with or contrary to this Act, are hereby deemed accordingly repealed or
8 
amended.
9 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval and 
10 completion of publication in the Official Gazette.
Approved,