FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
,
I
 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The illegal drugs menace is now considered public enemy no. 1 all over the world and 
poses a grave threat to a country's national security. In our country, it has alarmingly penetrated 
almost all sectors and levels of society including the government, business, and even law 
enforcement agencies and it may only take a little more time before the Philippines becomes 
another Colombia. 
Several government agencies envisioned to lead the government's total war against 
dangerous drugs were created. Laws were passed to encourage the participation of the Local 
Government Units in both the prevention and control of the illegal menace. In short, our concern 
is how to eradicate or prevent the spread of illicit drug traffic in the country. We should not, 
however, forget that a drug dependent is not a criminal but a victim who is in need of medical 
and psychiatric treatment and still can become a useful member of society. The government 
should likewise direct its national, programs to promote and sustain the treatment and 
rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse, especially in the critical after-care and social 
reintegration stages, Bringing a person back to the state of being where he can successfully cope 
with the physical, psychological and social demands of family and community life is one way of 
helping a sick person become a useful and productive member of the community. It is by the 
establishment of a rehabilitation center in every region of the country that we, can make 
accessible to every drug dependent medical facilities for a speedy recovery from the physical and 
mental trauma brought about by dangerous drugs. Hence, this bill seeks to establish a drug 
rehabilitation center in every region in the country. 


This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Roque R. Ablan Jr. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER IN 
EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Creation. - There shall be established, under the supervision of the 
Department of Health, drug rehabilitation center in every region of the country, hereinafter 
referred to as the Center. 
SECTION 2. Objectives and Functions. - The Center shall have the following objectives 
and functions: 
(A) To provide care, treatment and accommodation to persons found to be drug 
dependents; 
(B) To bring a drug dependent to a state where he is physically, psychologically and 
socially capable of coping with problems common to his peer group; 
(C) 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 enable a drug 
dependent to adjust to family and community life after his release; 
(E) To provide each drug dependent motivation to regain self-confidence, rediscover 
his working abilities and develop a sense of responsibility for himself; 
(F) To encourage the formation of organizations and associations composed of parents, 
guardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order to arouse their awareness 
and enhance their participation in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of their relatives 
or wards found to be drug dependent patients; 
1 


10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
(G) To undertake continuous training of physicians, nurses, health officers and social 
workers on the practical and scientific methods of prevention, care, treatment and 
rehabilitation of persons found to be drug dependents; 
(H) To strengthen the emotional and spiritual make-up of an individual drug dependent 
by conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as well as interdenominational 
church services. 
SECTION 3. Site of th.e Ce&x - The Secretary of Health in coordination with the 
Secretary 'of Public Works and Highways shall, taking into consideration the accessibility of the 
Center to its clientele, determine the location thereof. 
SECTION 4. Organization. - The Center shall be headed by a Director to be assisted by 
two (2) Deputy Directors who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and vested with 
powers generally exercised by a Chief and Assistant Chiefs, respectively, of a government 
hospital. 
No person shall be appointed Director or Deputy Director unless he possess the following 
qualifications: 
(A) At least thirty-five (35) years of age; 
(B) A physician of good repute; and 
(C) At least five (5) years experience in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of drug 
dependents. 
SECTION 5. Personnel and Stag - The Director 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. 
SECTION 6. Five-Year Development Plan. - The Center, through its Director, shall be 
authorized to embark on a Five-Year Development Plan in the fulfillment of the following: 
(A)To establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modem equipment to 
serve and cater to drug dependents of the' region; 
2 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
(B) To initiate plans for the development of income generating programs for the ultimate 
purpose of generating resources to provide charity services 
(C) To provide hospital pharmacy services, Free dispensaries and health stations; and 
(D) To provide educational facilities for interns and graduate and undergraduate students of 
medicine. 
SECTION I. 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 to effectively implement this Act. 
SECTION 8. Rules and Regulations. - The Director of the Center is hereby authorized, 
with the approval of the Secretary of Health, to - promulgate such rules and regulations as may 
be necessary to secure an effective administration of the Center and the effective implementation 
of the provisions of this Act 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The sum necessary for the effective implementation or 
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations for the Department of Health under the 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the 
continued operation of the Center shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3