Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No.____
Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE AMONG HIGH RISK YOUTH
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol has been the cause of hundreds of
accidents, crimes and deaths each year. In some cases, sharing of drug paraphernalia can
cause the spread of a number of communicable diseases, including AIDS and Hepatitis C.
In Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, all states agree to protect
children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to prevent children
from being exposed to the illicit production and trafficking of such substances.to effectively fulfill
this obligation, the government must take cognizance of the fact that there are certain youth
groups vulnerable or susceptible to substance abuse. These youth groups may not have any
access to formal institutional structures precisely because of their marginalized status. In order to
reach out to these disenfranchised sectors of the youth, community-based programs which
target high-risk youth must be put in place. More often than non-governmental organizations
have the experience and capacity to work at the grass-roots level.
The bill mandates Department of Health to make to make grants that would assist such
organizations in this noble cause, so that the youth may be saved from the debilitating effects of
substance abuse and become competent partners in development.
BERNADETTE HERRERA-DY
July 5, 2022
3:43 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No.
Introduced by Rep. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DRUG
AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG HIGH RISK YOUTH
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Saving Young Substance
Abusers Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social
wellbeing.
SECTION 3. "High Risk Youth" Defined. — For purposes of this Act, the term "high risk
youth" means an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, who is at high risk
of becoming, or who has become, a drug abuser or an alcohol abuser, and who —
(A)
Is identified as a child of a substance abuser;
(B)
Is a victim of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse;
(C)
Does not attend school;
(D)
Has become pregnant;
(E)
Is economically disadvantaged;
(F)Has committed a violent or delinquent act;
(G)
Has experienced mental health problems;
(H)
Has attempted suicide;
(l) Has experienced long-term physical pain due to injury;
(J)Has experienced chronic failure in school;
(K)
Is from a broken family;
(L)
Is a child laborer;
(M)
Is a street child or street gang member, or (N) Lives in conflict areas.
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SECTION 4. Grants to Public and Nonprofit Private Entities. — The Secretary of the
Department of Health shall make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for
projects to demonstrate effective models for the prevention, treatment, and
rehabilitation of drug abuse alcohol abuse among high risk youth.
SECTION. 5. Priority of Projects. -
(A)In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse prevention projects, the
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects directed at children
of substance abusers, children at risk of abuse or neglect, preschool
children, children at risk of dropping out of school, children at risk of
becoming adolescent parents, children who do not attend school, child
laborers, street children, and children who are at risk of being unemployed.
(B)In making grants for drug abuse and alcohol abuse treatment and
rehabilitation projects, the Secretary shall give priority to projects which
address the relationship between drug abuse or alcohol abuse and physical
child abuse, sexual child abuse, emotional child abuse, dropping out of
school, unemployment, delinquency, pregnancy, violence, suicide or mental
health problems.
(C)
In making grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to
applications from community based organizations for projects:
(I) To develop innovative models with multiple coordinated services
for the prevention or for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug
abuse or alcohol abuse by high risk youth.
(2) To
demonstrate
effective
models
with
multiple
coordinated
services which may be replicated and which are for the prevention
or for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abuse or alcohol
abuse by high risk youth.
(3) That employ research designs adequate for evaluating the
effectiveness of the program.
SECTION 6. Strategies for Reducing IJse. — The Secretary shall ensure that
projects under Section 4 include strategies for reducing the use of alcoholic
beverages and tobacco products by individuals to whom it is unlawful to sell or
distribute such beverages or products.
SECTION 7. Equal Distribution of Grants. — To the extent feasible, the Secretary
shall ensure the equal distribution of grants under this Act among urban and rural
areas.
SECTION 8. Application for Grants. — In order to receive a grant for a project
under this Act for a fiscal year, a public or nonprofit private entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary. The Secretary may provide the provincial governor or
the city mayor the opportunity to review and comment on such applications. Such
application shall be in such form, shall contain such information, and shall be
submitted at such time as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe.
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.


SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
amended accordingly.
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,