Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers has filed a bill that would grant tax incentives to cremation facilities that would help law enforcement authorities in their effort to destroy seized illegal drugs faster.

This is spelled out in Barbers' House Bill (HB) No. 9668, or the proposed “Prompt Dangerous Drugs Destruction Act of 2023.

It mandates all incineration facilities, including crematoriums, to render free services for the prompt destruction of all illegal substances, particularly "shabu", seized during anti-drug operations.

Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said the lack of dedicated incineration facilities for the immediate destruction of all confiscated drugs had been a long-time concern since these substances are temptations for pilferage and recycling if held in custody for a long time by law enforcers.

At the heart of the bill, Barbers said, is the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the part of incineration facilities, including crematoriums - which are traditionally associated with the dignified handling of end-of-life rituals - by extending their commitment to societal well-being.

“Kung maipapagamit sa atin ng libre ang mga incineration at cremation facilities para sunugin agad-agad ang mga kumpiskadong droga, maiiwasan na ang drug pilferage at recycling na matagal nang kinakaharap ng ating lipunan,” said the veteran congressman.

(If we get free access to incineration and cremation facilities for the immediate destruction of confiscated drugs, we would be able to avoid drug pilferage and recycling, which both longtime problems of society.)

In return, Barbers said, any incineration or crematorium facility that would render services under the measure would be given tax incentives, entitling them to a tax credit of 10 percent but not exceeding P50,000 of the taxable gross income for a period of two years.

But the measure won't take "no" for an answer either, which goes to show that the author is serious in ending the threat of illegal drugs in the country.

“Failure or refusal to render free destruction of any seized illegal drugs by the concerned facilities would be a ground for the suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of license or permit to operate said business/es,” he said.

Under the measure, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) shall be the agency that would designate the cremation facility that would undertake the drug destruction process, giving preference to the facility nearest to the court having jurisdiction over the case or to the place where the dangerous drugs were seized.

“The destruction and disposal of seized or confiscated illegal drugs and other substances shall be done through a Court order and the same shall be conducted with the strict supervision of the PDEA,” Barbers said.

For its part, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be tasked to issue pertinent guidelines and practices promoting anti-pollution measures in relation to the drug incineration and disposal.