Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 2 of Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as 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 drugs dependence 
through sustainable programs of treatment and rehabilitation. 
With the effects of substance abuse on persons, their family, and the 
community, it is only proper that the government gets involved through effective 
treatment and rehabilitation.  One of the means by which the government can 
provide effective rehabilitation, is by placing rehabilitation and treatment center 
in every city, municipality or clustered municipalities, which can be easily 
accessed by the poor and those who cannot afford the steep price of private 
rehabilitation facilities. 
In view of the foregoing, the undersigned earnestly prays for the approval 
of this bill. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
January 16, 2023
2:15 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN 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 2023”. 
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 king 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 – refers to any treatment and rehabilitation 
centers of facilities for illegal drug users, drug dependents and other substance 
abusers, which is created and owned or subsidized by a local government unit.  
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 undergoing treatment 
whether as in-patient or out-patient in a public drug rehabilitation center facility. 
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Rehabilitation Administrator – is the head in charge of the management, 
supervision and operation of the public rehabilitation center of facility. 
 
 
Support Staff – Employees who help 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 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 
treatment facility for their use. 
 
 
Section 6. Functions of Drug Rehabilitation Centers. 
 
a). Provide a comprehensive program for the treatment of patients to enable 
them to cease from drug use or dependence or other kind of substance abuse that 
can cause mental, psychological, and physical disorders. 
 
 
b). Diagnose drug users and substance abusers, recommend 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 counselling 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 treatment 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 of 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 the Private Drug Rehabilitation Centers. A 
local government unit, as the need arises, may likewise enter into an agreement 
with private rehabilitation centers for the admission 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.