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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of the ^ritefiirp
■22 NOV 14 AS 55
S. No.
SENATE
1498
RECEIVhO BY;
Q.
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A DRUG OVERDOSE REPORTING AND AWARENESS 
SYSTEM TO PREVENT DRUG OVERDOSE-RELATED DEATHS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Drug overdose refers to the ingestion or application of a drug or other 
substance in quantities greater than the prescribed or recommended dose. Drug 
overdose can be accidental overdoses or intentional misuse. The former occurs when 
a person consumes a drug by accident or in error. On the other hand, the latter occurs 
when a person consumes a drug for its desired effect - it could be to get high, to 
harm oneself, or similar reasons. Drug overdose can cause serious adverse 
consequences and even death.
Drug overdose, whether accidental or intentional, can be prevented. Its 
unintended side effects or even life-threatening symptoms consequences can be 
avoided. Thus, this bill seeks to require the Secretary of Health to publish bi-annually 
findings on nationwide drug overdose trends that reviews overdose death rates and 
other information to ascertain changes in the cause and rates of fatal drug overdoses. 
With this, necessary information will be gathered that will lead to formulation of proper 
and strategies to be undertaken to effectively address the issue on drug overdose.


In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MAITOEL"LTTOw m. lapid
Senator 
/


Senate
V? •___ t.I., ^
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
■^Jr'SfUv of tlif &rrr?tflrp
•22 NOV 14 A 8 -55
SENATE
S. No. 1498
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A DRUG OVERDOSE REPORTING AND AWARENESS 
SYSTEM TO PREVENT DRUG OVERDOSE-RELATED DEATHS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Drug Overdose
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Reporting and Awareness System Act."
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the
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general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to prevent deaths
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caused by drug overdose by requiring the Secretary of Health to submit a report to
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Congress relating to the prevalence of drugs overdose incidents, trends in 
drug
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overdose incidents and strategies for addressing such drug overdose incidents.
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:
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1. "Department" means the Department of Health;
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2. "Drug Overdose" means the ingestion or application, whether intentional or
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accidental, of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are
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recommended or generally practiced; and
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3. "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health.
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SECTION 4. Reporting Requirements. -


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a. The Secretary shall publish bi-annually findings on nationwide drug 
overdose trends that reviews overdose death rates and other information 
to ascertain changes in the cause and rates of fatal drug overdoses for an 
appropriate period of time, based on information collected pursuant to the 
Act. The report shall also provide information on interventions that wouid 
be effective in reducing the rate of drug overdose.
b. The report shall include, at a minimum the following information:
1. Trends in drug overdose deaths;
2. Trends in emergency room utilization for the treatment of drug 
overdose;
3. Trends in utilization of pre-hospital and emergency services and the 
cost of emergency services utilization for drug overdose;
4. Suggested improvements in data collection; and
5. A description of education efforts and other interventions that would 
be effective in reducing the rate of drug overdose.
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SECTION 5. Advice regarding Drug Overdose. - The Secretary shail provide an
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annual advisory to municipal, city, and provincial official, which shall contain:
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a. The prevalence of drug overdose incidents;
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b. Trends in drug overdose incidents; and
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c. Best practices and strategies for addressing drug overdose in their
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jurisdiction.
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SECTION 6. Mandatory Disclosure of Death by Drug Overdose. - Where a death
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is caused by drug overdose, such information shall be reported by the examining
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physician or the person who supplies information for the death certificate, inciuding
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any related or specific information concerning the drug or drugs responsibie for the
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death, and any other information related to the overdose death as the Secretary shall
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require.
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SECTION 7. Data Privacy. - The information and data collected under this Act
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shall be processed in compliance with R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data
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Privacy Act of 2012."
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SECnON 8. Unlawful Withholding or Failure to Disclose Drug Overdose
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Information; Violation; Penalties. -
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a. It shall be unlawful for a parent, spouse, child, sibling, next of kin, guardian,
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or any person similarly charged with the information relating to the
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deceased, to knowingly withhold, fail to disclose, or falsify any information
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relating to the incident of drug overdose, information concerning the drug
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or drugs responsible for the death, and other information relating to the
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death caused by drug overdose.
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b. It shall likewise be unlawful for the hospital, health care facility, attending
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physician, or medico-legal in possession of such information to withhold fail
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to disclose, or falsify any information when filing a report of the overdose
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victim's death. Such report shall be mandatory, and the Secretary shall
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promulgate rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the passage
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of this Act regarding the filing of such report.
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c. Any person convicted for unlawful withholding, failing to disclose, or
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falsifying the information required in the preceding paragraph shall be
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penalized with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more
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than Five Flundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00).
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section, subsection,
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clause or term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by
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such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and
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regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly.


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SECTION 11. Effectivity. - T^is Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,