TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. No. 1200
SsEiiatE
of tl)f s&Efn>taip
25 AUG 18 All :32 
\
RtCEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
REQUIRING ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF PUBLIC OFFICES, 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO 
UNDERGO AN ANNUAL MANDATORY DRUG TESTING AND 
INSTITUTIONALIZING VOLUNTARY RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF 
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTORAL POSTS WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS PRIOR 
THE ELECTION DAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9165 OR THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 4, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that "the prime 
duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. 'This principle is consistent 
with the Latin maxim saiuspopuH estsupreme iex, which underscores that the welfare 
of the people is the highest law. Likewise, the Constitution emphasizes that "public 
office is a public trust"that public officers and employees must uphold the highest 
standards of responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, guided by patriotism, 
justice, and modesty in public service.
In furtherance of this constitutional mandate and the Comprehensive 
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) issued CSC 
Resolution No. 1700653, dated 15 March 2017, providing guidelines on the conduct 
of mandatory random drug testing for public officials and employees. Subsequently, 
the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) promulgated DDB Regulation No. 13, series of 
2018, institutionalizing drug-free workplace policies across all government offices. The 
said regulation provides that any public official or employee found positive for drug


use shall be subject to disciplinary or administrative proceedings, with dismissal from 
service as the penalty for the first offense. Thereafter, CSC Resolution No. 1900238, 
dated 8 March 2019, amended the earlier CSC issuance by allowing agencies to be 
exempted from its coverage, provided that they instead adopt the provisions of DDB 
Regulation No. 13, s. 2018.
Notwithstanding these issuances, there remain gaps in ensuring the effective 
and consistent enforcement of a drug-free policy across the bureaucracy. Given their 
role as frontliners of public service, it is imperative that public officials and government 
employees themselves first exemplify accountability and adherence to constitutional 
principles. Subjecting them to integrity measures, including drug testing, is therefore 
a necessary tool to reinforce the government's commitment to service founded on 
responsibility, integrity, and loyalty to the people. Public officials, by virtue of their 
mandate, must not only be free from the influence of dangerous drugs but must also 
demonstrate leadership by example.
In view of the forgoing, the passage of the proposed bill is earnestly sought.
ROBI
Stator


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
S. No. 1200
of tl)r ^ffrrfarp
25 AUG 18 All :32
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
REQUIRING ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF PUBLIC OFFICES, 
INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO 
UNDERGO AN ANNUAL MANDATORY DRUG TESTING AND 
INSTITUTIONALIZING VOLUNTARY RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF 
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTORAL POSTS WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS PRIOR 
THE ELECTION DAY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9165 OR THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Drug-Free Government
2 
Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the state to maintain peace
4 
and order, protect one's life, liberty, and property, and promote the general welfare
5 
of the people. The 1987 Constitution also reiterates that the State shall maintain
6 
honesty and integrity in the 
public service, highlighting the importance of
7 
accountability of public officers and employees, with high regard to the service
8 
equipped with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, actions toward
9 
patriotism and justice, and lives with modesty. Hence, a public office being a public
10 
trust, public officials shall also be subject to accountability measures such as
11 
mandatory random drug testing inclined with the officials' mandate of promoting the
12 
general welfare of the people, 
especially in terms of mitigating, if not totally
13 
eliminating, drug use and abuse in the community.


1 
Sec. 3. Amendment - Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9165 or Comprehensive
2 
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is amended to read as follows:
3 
"SECTION 36. Authorized Drug Testing. - Authorized drug testing shall
4 
be done by any government forensic laboratories or by any of the drug
5 
testing laboratories accredited and monitored by the DOH to safeguard
6 
the quality of test results. The DOH shall take steps in setting the price
7 
of the drug test with DOH accredited drug testing centers to further
8 
reduce the cost of such drug test. The drug testing shall employ, among
9 
others, two (2) testing methods, the screening test which SHALL BE
10 
DONE THROUGH HAIR FOLLICLE DRUG TEST, THAT will
11 
determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and
12 
the confirmatory test which SHALL BE DONE THROUGH URINE
13 
DRUG TEST, THAT will confirm a positive screening test. Drug test
14 
certificates issued by accredited drug testing centers shall be valid for
15 
a one-year period from the date of issue which may be used for other
16 
purposes. The following shall be subjected to undergo MANDATORY
17 
drug testing:
18 
(a) Applicants for driver's license. - No driver's license shall be
19 
issued or renewed to any person unless he/she presents a
20 
certification that he/she has undergone a mandatory drug test
21 
and indicating thereon that he/she is free from the use of
22 
dangerous drugs;
23 
XXX
24 
[(g) All candidates for public office whether appointed or elected
25 
both in the national or local government shall undergo a
26 
mandatory drug test. ]
27 
(G) ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF THE
28 
GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT INSTRUMENTALITIES,
29 
OR GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND CONTROLLED
30 
CORPORATIONS (GOCCS), WHETHER DOMESTIC OR


1 
OVERSEASES, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT OF THE
2 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, SHALL BE SUBJECTED
3 
TO UNDERGO AN ANNUAL MANDATORY DRUG TEST
4 
THROUGH HAIR FOLLICLE DRUG TEST. ANY OFFICIAL
5 
FOUND POSITIVE FOR USE OF DANGEROUS DRUGS
6 
SHALL BE DEALT WITH ADMINISTRATIVELY WHICH
7 
SHALL BE A GROUND FOR SUSPENSION OR
8 
TERMINATION FROM OFFICE, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
9 
PERTINENT LAWS.
10 
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTORAL POSTS ARE NOT
11 
PRECLUDED FROM UNDERGOING VOLUNTARY HAIR
12 
FOLLICLE DRUG TEST WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS
13 
PRIOR THE ELECTION DAY.
14 
XXX"
15 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
16 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and
17 
subsisting.
18 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause.— Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
19 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
20 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
21 
accordingly.
22 
Sec. 6. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
23 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation
24 
in the Philippines.
Approved,