Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A DRUG OVERDOSE REPORTING AND 
AWARENESS SYSTEM TO PREVENT DRUG 
OVERDOSE-RELATED DEATHS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Drug overdose is defined as the accidental or intentional ingestion or 
application of a drug or medicine in an amount that is higher than is normally 
used. 
All drugs have the potential to be misused, whether legally prescribed 
by a doctor, purchased over the counter at drugstores, or bought illegally. 
Taken in combination with other drugs or with alcohol, even drugs that are 
normally considered safe can and may cause serious long-term consequences 
and even death. The youth are particularly at risk for accidental overdose, 
accounting for over one million poisonings each year from drugs, alcohol, and 
other chemicals and toxic substances. People who suffer from depression and 
who have suicidal thoughts are also at high risk for drug overdose. 
Whether accidental or intentional, drug overdose can be prevented 
provided that there are necessary information available and proper strategies 
in place. Thus, this bill directs the Secretary of Health to study and submit a 
report to Congress on the incidence of and trends in drug overdose related 
deaths. The Secretary is also required to provide an annual advisory to local 
governments on the best practices and strategies for addressing drug overdose 
in their area.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City
July 27, 2022
3:16 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as “Drug Overdose 
Reporting and Awareness System Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote 
the general welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to 
prevent deaths caused by drug overdose by requiring the Secretary of Health 
to submit a report to Congress relating to the prevalence of drug overdose 
incidents, trends in drug overdose incidents and strategies for addressing 
such drug overdose incidents. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Department” means the Department of Health; and
(B) “Drug Overdose” means the ingestion or application, whether
intentional or   accidental, of a drug or other substance in quantities
greater than are recommended or generally practiced.
(C) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health.
SECTION 4. Reporting Requirements. – 
(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
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information collected pursuant to the Act. The report shall also 
provide information on interventions that would 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 
 
SECTION 5. Advice Regarding Drug Overdose. – The Secretary shall provide 
an annual advisory to municipal, city, and provincial official, which shall 
contain: 
 
(A) The prevalence of drug overdose incidents; 
 
(B) Trends in drug overdose incidents; and  
 
(C) Best practices and strategies for addressing drug overdose in their 
jurisdiction. 
 
SECTION 6. Mandatory Disclosure of Death by Drug Overdose. Where a 
death is cause by a drug overdose, such information shall be reported by the 
examining physician or the person who supplies information for the death 
certificate, including any related or specific information concerning the drug 
or drugs responsible for the death, and any other information related to the 
overdose death as the Secretary shall require.  
 
SECTION 7. Unlawful Withholding or Failure to Disclose Drug Overdose 
Information; Violation; Penalties. – 
 
(A) It shall be unlawful for a parent, spouse, child, sibling or next of kin 
to knowingly withholding, or fail to disclose, any information relating 
to the incident of drug overdose, information concerning the drug or 
drugs responsible for the death, and other information relating to 
the death caused by drug overdose. 
 
(B) It shall likewise be unlawful for the hospital, health care facility, 
attending physician, or medico-legal in possession of such 


 
 
information to withhold or fail to disclose such when filing a report 
of the overdose victim’s death. Such report shall be mandatory and 
the Secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations within ninety 
(90) days from the passage of this Act regarding the filing of such 
report.  
 
(C) Any person convicted for unlawful withholding or failure to disclose 
information required in the preceding paragraph shall be penalized 
with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00). 
 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
other provision hereof. 
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
portion thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
hereby repealed amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,