During 1996 the Philippines Senate ratified the 1988 UN Convention and exchanged instruments of ratification with the US marking the entry into force of the US-Philippines Extradition Treaty and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The Philippines is a major producer and exporter of marijuana due to official corruption, ineffective enforcement, and ideal growing conditions. Geography and the lack of funding make it unlikely that eradication efforts will have a significant impact on marijuana production. The Philippines currently has no known domestic heroin problem. As in previous years, no drug treatment center reported a single case of opiate addiction during the year.
Crystal methamphetamine is the drug of choice among Philippines drug users.
Authorities discovered two methamphetamine laboratories during 1996. The precursor chemicals involved had been smuggled into the country rather than diverted from legitimate imports. The ease with which precursor chemicals can be smuggled into the country, and the lack of adequate investigative resources make it likely that more such labs could operate for a considerable length of time with little risk of discovery. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1996 Policy Initiatives. In February, the Philippines Senate ratified the 1988 UN Convention, which it had signed in 1988.