Reeblicof the Philipines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quexen City
Zi

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8397

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION
DESIGNED TO HELP ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF AN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AVOID INVOLVEMENT WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS.

Drug abuse is a social problem that persists despite the stiff penal sanctions provided by
our criminal laws. This bill seeks to provide measures to prevent drug abuse by
educating the youth and those tasked to look after their welfare by requiring all
educational institutions to establish and maintain a program of education designed to
help all members of an educational institution avoid involvement with illegal drugs. Under
this bill, educational institutions are also required to maintain drug counseling and
rehabilitation services which shall also be made available to all its members.

LUIS RA’ “LRAY” F./VILLAFUERTE, JR.


A
Ruble of the Philipines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quexew City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8397

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION
DESIGNED TO HELP ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF AN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AVOID INVOLVEMENT WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Drug Abuse Prevention
Program in Educational Institutions Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Itis the policy of the State to promote the health and
well-being of the people and rear the youth for nation building. To this end, it is
necessary to provide a program of education on the detrimental effects of the use of
illegal drugs designed to help all members of the community of an educational institution
avoid involvement with illegal drugs.

SECTION 3. Education, Counseling and Rehabilitation. — All universities, colleges, and
schools providing, at least, grade school and high school education (hereinafter
“educational institutions") shall establish and maintain a program of education designed
to help all members of its community avoid involvement with illegal drugs. The
educational program shall emphasize the following subjects:

(A) The incompatibility of the use or sale of illegal drugs with the goals of the institution;
(B) The legal consequences of involvement with illegal drugs;

(C) The medical implications of the use of illegal drugs; and

(D) The ways in which illegal drugs jeopardize an individual's present accomplishments

and future opportunities.


Educational institutions shall establish drug counseling and rehabilitation services which
shall be available to all members of the community through campus-based programs and
community-based organizations. Persons who voluntary avail themselves of these
services shall be assured that applicable professional standards of confidentiality will be
observed.

SECTION 4. Implementation and Reporting. — All educational institutions shall submit to
the Secretary of the Department of Education, hereinafter “Secretary”, not later than
March 1 of every year a report on campus activities related to illegal drugs for the
preceding year. The reports shall include, as a minimum, the following:

(A) A listing of the major education activities conceming illegal drugs conducted during
the year;

(B) A report on any illegal drug-related incidents, including any sanctions imposed;

(C) An assessment of the effectiveness of the campus program; and

(D) Any proposed changes in the policy on illegal drugs.

SECTION 5. Model Program Prepared by the Secretary. — The Secretary shalll prepare a
model program required under Section 3 which shall be distributed to all educational
institutions. This program shall serve as the minimum compliance requirement with this
Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules. - The Secretary shall promulgate the rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provision of this Act which shall include the
appropriate sanctions for non-compliance with this Act.

The said rules and regulations shall be promulgated not later than one hundred eighty
(180) days after the effectivity of this Act. All educational institutions shall comply with
this Act one year after the promulgation of the said implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,