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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PDEA, DDB budget for 2024 hurdles Senate panel

PDEA, DDB budget for 2024 hurdles Senate panel

Published Sep 20, 2023 08:37 am

A Senate committee has approved on Wednesday, Sept. 20, the proposed budget for 2024 of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

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Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa (Senate PRIB photo)


The upper chamber’s subcommittee on finance, chaired by Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa deliberated the P3.3 billion and P417.3 million budgets of PDEA and DDB, respectively.

During the hearing, DDB Executive Director Earl Saavedra said that they hope the amount of collections it gets from licenses, certifications, exemptions, as well as fines and penalties, can go to PDEA.

He said that these frontline services are DDB's shared responsibility with PDEA.

"Hindi po yan nagagamit, sir. Kasi cinoconsider yan commitment to national revenue pag nireremit hindi na po siya naibabalik (It's not being used, sir. Because it is considered to be committed to the national revenue and when remitted, it's not returned)," he said.

"Perhaps this can be a platform where we can manifest na sana magamit din po ni PDEA ito kasi sila po yung main processing unit ng mga ito (that we hope PDEA can use this because they are the main processing unit of these [frontline services])," he added.

He explained that in accordance with the law, the contributions of other agencies such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) are being used to fund the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DATRCs).

However, it is not clearly defined what's the mechanism between the National Treasury and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regarding the collections from frontline services.

Dela Rosa then told PDEA to submit a proposal in order to address this concern through an amendment of a provision.

Meanwhile, PDEA stated that under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for Fiscal Year 2024, one of its Tier 2 Projects approved by the Department of Budget and Management is the Narcotic Detection Dog (NDD) Breeding Program.

The senator explained how important this program is considering the high costs of purchasing imported dog breeds as well as the cost of training. If it goes well, he added that they can also supply dogs for other agencies.

On the other hand, Sen. Francis Tolentino raised concerns of the alleged proliferation of the prescription drug fentanyl which can be subject to abuse.

So far, PDEA Usec. Moro Virgilio Lazo stated that they have not seized any fentanyl yet in the country. He added that they have already been warned by the Narcotics Law Enforcement Branch of the United States Government about it since it's a number one problem now there.

"I think it is a controlled medication for pain management, and if it is abused the effect is very fatal. I think what is required only is .02 milligrams and if you go beyond that, that can cause someone’s death, that is why in the US it's the problem now. It is causing a lot of deaths in the US," Lazo explained.

Dela Rosa has endorsed the proposed budgets of both agencies for plenary approval.

Related Tags

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Senate committee on finance Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa Dangerous drugs Board Senator Francis N. Tolentino
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