Republic of the Philippin.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

VENTEENTH CONGRES!
irst Regular Session

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Efforts to combat drug addiction and drug trafficking in the country have been the focus of the
current administration, many of these efforts concentrated on law enforcement action that are an
extension of the Presidents crusade against drugs

‘The pernicious effects of drugs cannot, however, be addressed solely thraugh police action. A
focus on incarceration, prosecution, and punishment is far from ideal when it comes to those who
are vietims in their own right, through circumstances of desperation or ignorance, The ideal that
we should aim for is not merely a nation which is drug-free, but one where those who were
previously under the self-destructive spell of drugs have reformed and returned to being dutiful
members of society. A punishment-focused approach forfeits the possibility that some of the
damage wrought ean be completely undone -- rehabilitation does not

Addiction is in many ways a disease, caused by a combination of behavioral, environmental and
biological factors, where continued release of pleasure-inducing chemicals causes changes in the
brain systems involved in reward, motivation and memory.' While the initial choice to do drugs
is usually just that -~ a conscious choice -- once the brain has been changed by addiction, that
willpower and the ability to choose becomes impaired. Addiction is a disease, a treatable and
curable disease, and the State must have programs, facilities, and resources that engage it as such
because out ideal must be 0 cure, to rehabilitate, to redeem. We must never lose sight of the
fact that with help, it becomes possible to achieve the miraculous: to turn back the hands of time
and allow one who was lost to find him or herself again.

This is not a new policy for the government: as stated in Republic Act 9165 or the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the State must provide effective mechanisms or
measures to re-integrate into society individuals who have fallen victim to drug abuse or
dangerous drug dependence through sustainable programs of treatment and rehabilitation.
According to the website of the Dangerous Drug Board, the country has forty one residential
rehabilitation centers, and three out-patient centers, numbers which are unlikely to provide
sufficient venues for rehabilitation given the number of drug users who have been captured or
‘who have surrendered since the President took office. For that reason and to further strengthen
the rehabititation programs of the country, this bill - filed as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 718
with the support of its author, Senator Cynthia Villar ~ seeks to establish accessible
rehabilitation centers in every province and city in the Philippines that will cater to the welfare of
drug dependents in order to sustain the government’s efforts in achieving drug-free society.

Aewture A Kelton
EMMELINE Y. AGLIPAY - VILLAR,
Representative, DIWA Party-list

» http://mww.centeronaddiction org/addiction/disease-model-addiction
1d,

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bit No. 3108

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Agl

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TOWARDS THE
TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDENTS BY
ESTABLISHING DRUG REHABILITATION CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE AND
CITY IN THE COUNTRY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Creation, ~ In order to complement the intensified drive to eradicate dangerous and/or
illegal drugs in the country, there shall be treatment and rehabilitation centers (hereinafter referred to as
centers) for drug dependents established in every provinee and city in the Philippines. These centers shall

ervised by the Department of Health

bbe su

Section 2. Objectives and Functions. ~ These centers so established shall haye the following objectives
and funetions:

(a) To provide care, treacment and accommodation to every person found ¢0 be a drug
dependent

(b) ‘To bring such drug dependent to a state where he is physically, psychologically and
socially capable to cope with problems common to his peer group;

(6) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information on
the prevention, care, treatment and control of drug addiction;

(d) To provide after-care, follow-up and. social reintegration services to every drug
dependent in order to assist in his assimilation (o his family and community after his release from the
center:

(€) To provide motivation to each drug dependent in order that he could regain self
confidence, rediscover his working abilities and develop a sense of responsibility for himself

(To encourage the formation of organization and associations composed of parents,
guardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order (0 arouse their awareness and enhance
their participation in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of their relatives or wards found to be drug,
dependent patients;

(2) To undertake continuous training of physiefans, nurses, heath officers and sociaf workers
oon the practical and stientifie methods of prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons found
to be drug dependents; and

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(h) To strengthen the emotional and spiritual make-up of every drug dependent by
conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as well as interdenominational services.

Section 3, Sites of the Centers. ~ The Secretary of Health and the local chief executives shall determine
the location of the centers in their respec

ive provinees and cities inthe county.

2 conters will be established, consideration shall be

In the determination and prioritization of the sites wh
given to the following:

a.) Existence (or the lack) of national and local government-operated or -aceredited
rehabilitation centers;

b.) Density of the population and rate of incidence of drug dependence: and
©) Locations that will provide peaceful and quiet environments in order to ensure a focused

and uninterrupted treatment and rehabilitation of the drug dependents but at the same
time reasonably accessible to the prospective clientele;

Pending the establishment of centers in some provinces, the Secretary of Health should initiate drug
rehabilitation programs in existing government hospitals in the provinee.

jon 4, Affordability of Rehabititation and Treatment, ~ ‘The Secretary of Health shall establish a
socialized scheme for the payment of the expenses of rehabilitation and treatment of drug dependents
with the end in view that it is the government's duty to ensure that drug dependents are rehabilitated and
reintegrated into society; Provided, that drug dependents who are indigents and whose immediate next of
kin are likewise indigent shall not be required to pay; Provided further, that expenses of rehabilitation and
treatment may be chargeable to Phithealth by drug dependents who are likewise its members in good
; and Provided finally, that drug dependents shall not be required to pay & deposit as a condition
admittance to any government-operated center or government hospitals,

Section 5, Director of the Center, ~ Bach of the Centers shall be headed by a Director, who shall be
appointed by the Secretary of Health and vested with powers generally exercised by a chief of @
‘government hospital.

‘The appointment of the directors of the centers should follow a reliable and stringent selection process, to
be adopted by the Department of Health, In no ease shall a person be appointed as Director of a Center
unless he or she possesses the following qualifications, among others: shall be of good moral character;
shall be of sound mind; shail not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense
involving moral turpitude; shall be a holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalent
conferred by a college of medicine duly recognized by the government; and shall have at least five (5)
years experience in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents,

Section 6, Personnel and Staff. ~ The Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Director of the
respective centers, shall appoint such other personnel and staff as may be necessary for the effective

operation of the Center, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

Im line with the local government units’ role of assisting in the rehabilitation or treatment of drug
dependents provided under Section $1 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
of 2002, as amended, local government units may detail personnel, as may be necessary, to perform tasks

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and functions that are supportive to the complete and effective rehabilitation of drug dependents being.
treated in the centers.

1t is mandatory that the officials, personnel and staff to be employed and/or detailed at the centers will
Undergo integrity tests and trainings, from time to time, as measure to prevent infiltration by drug
syndicates into our drug rehabilitation centers and system,

Section 7. Government Assistance to the Center, — The Secretary of Health is hereby authorized to call
upon any department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the government for such assistance as may be
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act

Seetion 8, Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary of the Department of Health, in coordination with the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the
Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, concemed non-governmental
organizations, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to
secure an effective administration of the centers and the effective implementation of the provisions of this
Act, within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act.

Section 9, Appropriations. ~ ‘The sum necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the appropriations for the Department of Health under the General Appropriations Act

‘Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued! operation of the centers shall be incladed
inthe annual General Appropriations Act

Section 10, Effectivity, ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,

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