Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3208
House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Drug abuse, illegal drug trade, and drug-related crimes
are just a few of the many problems our country is facing
today. In an effort to solve these plagues that is festering
our society, the government, led by none other than our
President himself - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has
recently launched a much-contested and _highly-
broadcasted war against drugs. The efforts of the national
government to battle and eradicate the perpetrators of illegal
drug trade, and destroy the source of the misery of many
families in our society, are undeniably laudable. However,
the fact remains that this war on drugs could also destroy
the lives of persons who are, under the law, considered as
victims to drug abuse or dangerous drug dependence.

Sec. 2 of R.A. No. 9165 or the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, provides that “It is x x x the
policy of the State to provide effective mechanisms or
measures to re-integrate into society individuals who have
fallen victims to drug abuse or dangerous drug dependence
through sustainable programs of treatment and
rehabilitation.”

Indeed, the use and abuse of drugs have been
destroying the lives of the drug addicts and their respective
families for a very long time now. Therefore, it is only proper
that the government gets involved and end their suffering


not by taking their lives or the lives of their loved ones, but
rather, through effective treatment and rehabilitation.

One of the means by which the government can
provide effective rehabilitation, is by placing rehabilitation
and treatment centers in every cities and municipalities or
clustered municipalities, which can be easily access by the
poor and those who cannot afford the price of private
rehabilitation facilities. In the past few weeks, reports are
made that a lot of drug users, abusers, and dependents are
surrendering to the police. However, mere surrendering is
not enough as what these persons need is treatment and
rehabilitation, otherwise, their act of surrendering would be
futile as they would be easily tempted to go back to their old
ways.

In view of the foregoing, the undersigned earnestly
prays for the approval of this bill.

Que v
ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
3208
House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT CREATING PUBLIC REHABILITATION AND
TREATMENT CENTERS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN
EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the
“Mandatory Creation of Public Rehabilitation and Treatment
Centers for Substance Abuse Act of 2019.”

Section 2. Coverage. This Act shall apply to every city
and municipality in the Philippines.

Section 3. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby
declared the policy of the State to provide effective
mechanisms or measures to re-integrate into society
individuals who have fallen victims to drug abuse,
dangerous drug dependence or any kind of substance abuse
through sustainable programs of treatment and
rehabilitation.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this
Act, the following terms shall be used under the definition
provided hereof, to wit:

Public Rehabilitation Center - any treatment and
rehabilitation center or facility for illegal drug users, drug
dependents and other substance abusers, which is created

3


and owned by a local government unit or local government-
subsidized.

Substance abuse - is the habitual and incessant use
of harmful and prohibited drugs and other substances that
can cause psychoactive behavior, brain disorder, physical
deformity and other dependence syndrome.

Patient - a drug dependent or substance abuser
undegoing treatment whether as in-patient or out-patient in
a public drug rehabilitation center or facility.

Rehabilitation Administrator - is the head in charge of
the management, supervision and operation of the public
rehabilitation center or facility.

Support Staff - Employees who help and support the
management and operation of public rehabilitation center or
facility.

Section 5. Creation of Public Drug Rehabilitation
Center or Substance Abuse Facility. There shall be at
least one (1) public drug rehabilitation and treatment center
or facility for every city. A municipality may establish a
center or facility of its own if it has available funds for its
establishment, management and operation otherwise at
least three (3) municipalities shall join or cluster themselves
together for the establishment of one (1) drug rehabilitation
and treament facility for their use.

Section 6. Functions of Drug Rehabilitation
Centers.

a). Provide a comprehensive program for the treatment
of patients to enable them cease from drug use or
dependence or other kind of substance abuse that can
cause mental, pyschological and physical disorders.

b). Diagnose drug users and substance abusers and
suggest a program suited for their treatment and
rehabilitation and determine whether their rehabilitation
will be as in-patient or out-patient.


c.). Determine how to treat, help and assist drug
dependents or those suffering with any other kind of
substance addiction to recover from the ill effects of
substance abuse and addiction which includes any physical
and mental disorders brought about by drug or substance
abuse.

d.) Educate the patients about drug addictions and
substance abuse.

e.) Provide counseling to patients or those who are at
risk of becoming drug dependents or substance abuser.

f.) Provide the patients with a program on how to re-
integrate themselves to society and adopt total approaches
for them to become better citizens and prevent their relapse;

g.) Other similar functions necessary for the
rehabilitation and treament of patients;

Section 7. Officials and employees of Public
Rehabilitation Center or Facility.

a.) Rehabilitation Administrator

b.) Doctor (MD), psychiatrist

c) Psychologist/therapist

d.) Program/Case Supervisor

e.) Social worker/clinician /counselor
f.) Detox specialist

g.) Support staff

The officials and employees shall be appointed by the
City or Municipal Mayor. They shall receive salaries
pursuant to the Salary Standardization Law. The officials
and employees of a rehabilitation center or facility created
by three (3) clustered municipalities shall be appointed by
the Mayor of Municipality where the center or facility is
situated.


Section 8. Availment of treatment. A drug
dependent or user residing in a city whose family has a
collective income of not more than Thirty Thousand Pesos
(P30,000.00) and in a Municipality or clustered
Municipalities with a collective income of not more than
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) shall be entitled to
avail treatment and rehabilitation to a public rehabilitation
center.

Section 9. Agreement with Private Drug
Rehabilitation Centers. A local government unit as the
need arises may likewise enter into an agreement with
private rehabilitation centers for the admissions of drug or
substance abuse patients who are qualified to avail
treatment in a public rehabilitation centers to augment the
services of its facility.

Section 10. Operation and Maintenance. The local
government unit concerned shall operate and maintain the
public drug rehabilitation centers or facility. In case of
clustered municipalities, they shall contribute in the
expenditures for the management, operation and
maintenance of the public rehabilitation centers.

Section 11. Period of Compliance. All cities,
municipalities or clustered municipalities shall comply with
the establishment of public rehabilitation centers within one
(1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations.
The Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG)
shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for
the effective and immediate implementation of this Act.

Section 13. Repealing Clause.- All laws,
presidential decrees, letters of instructions, executive
orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended
as the case may be.


Section 14. Separability Clause. - In the event that
any provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provisions
shall not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and
enforceable.

Section 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take
effect after its complete publication in at least three (3)
newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.