Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: Cong. Manuel T. Sagarbarria 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of a drug rehabilitation center in the 
Municipality of Amlan, Province of Negros Oriental. 
The 2015 National Household Survey of the Dangerous Drugs Board showed that 
there are 1.8 million drugs users in the country. With the unrelenting campaign of the current 
administration to weed out his country of drug traffickers, thousands of self-confessed drug 
users also surrendered and reached out to get proper medical assistance. The Philippine 
National Police last September 6, 2016 reported an alarming statistic of 687,953 self-
confessed users and pushers. 
With the influx of the overwhelming number of surrenderees, the government was left 
with merely booking and profiling them. Those who sought help from the government were 
asked to sign an agreement that they will no longer be involved in drugs and were sent home 
because they cannot be accommodated by existing rehabilitation centers. There are a total of 
forty one (41) accredited residential rehabilitation centers nationwide with only six (6) 
centers in the National Capital Region and none for the Negros Island Region. This emerging 
problem if left unchecked could later undermine the government’s anti-drug policy. 
The drug affectation does not only include the victim but their families, friends and 
communities. Lest we forget that aside from the effect of drugs on the victim, families are the 
most affected by the drug menace. Broken families, strained relationships, wasted resources 
and drug related crimes are some of the effects of drug abuse. 
Negros Oriental has its share of drug related problems. Surrenderees must be given 
ample treatment in order to re-integrate them into society as productive citizens. To address 
this growing concern, the establishment of a rehabilitation center in the Province of Negros 
Oriental is in order. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MANUEL “CHIQUITING” T. SAGARBARRIA 
Representative, 2nd District, Negros Oriental 
July 20, 2022
6:24 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: Cong. Manuel T. Sagarbarria 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF AMLAN, PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL, TO BE 
KNOWN AS THE NEGROS ORIENTAL REHABILITATION CENTER AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Creation. – There shall be established a drug rehabilitation center in the 
Municipality of Amlan, Province of Negros Oriental, to be known as the Negros Oriental 
Rehabilitation Center that shall be responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug 
dependents within the Province of Negros Oriental. 
SECTION 2. Objectives and Functions. – The Center shall have the following 
objectives and functions: 
a) Provide care, treatment and accommodation to persons found to be drug
dependents;
b) Bring a drug dependent to a state of being physically, psychologically and socially
capable of coping with problems common to peer groups;
c) Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information
on the prevention, care, treatment and control of drug addiction;
d) Provide after-care, follow-up and social reintegration services to enable a drug
depended to adjust to family and community life after release;
e) Encourage the formation of organizations and associations composed of parents,
guardians and immediate relatives of drug dependents in order to raise awareness
and enhance their participation in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of their
relatives or wards;
f)
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; and
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g) Strengthen the spiritual and emotional make-up of an individual drug dependent 
by conducting regular guidance and counseling sessions as well as 
interdenominational church services. 
 
SECTION 3. Site of the Center. – The Center shall be established in the 
Municipality of Amlan in the Province of Negros Oriental. 
 
 
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 the Chief and Assistant Chiefs of a government 
hospital. 
 
 
SECTION 5. Personnel and staff. – 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 is 
authorized to formulate and implement a Development plan in the fulfillment of the 
following: 
 
a) Establish additional building facilities equipped with new and modern equipment 
to serve and cater to drug dependents from the Province of Negros Oriental; 
b) Initiate plans for the development of income generating resources to provide 
charity service; 
c) Provide pharmacy services, dispensaries and health stations; and  
d) Provide on the job training and other educational facilities for interns and graduate 
and undergraduate students of medicine. 
 
SECTION 7. 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 Secretary of Health, in coordination with 
the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Department of Social Welfare and Development is 
hereby authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the 
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation for the 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations for the 
Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued 
operation of the Negros Oriental Rehabilitation Center shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 10. 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 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved.