Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has filed two measures aimed at strengthening the government’s campaign against illegal drugs through holistic approach of enforcement, rehabilitation and reintegration. 

In filing Senate Bill No. 665, or the proposed “Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers Act,” Go seeks the establishment of a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation facility in every region of the Philippines.

SB No. 665 aims to institutionalize a network of facilities that will provide care, treatment, and accommodation to drug dependents.

According to Go, a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs,” the said facilities will be under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

Under the bill, these centers will be tasked to ensure drug dependents their psychological and social stability; facilitate their reintegration into family and community life; and promote public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

“These drug dependents can be considered as prey of opportunists, drug criminals and syndicates. They should also be treated as victims in dire need of medical, psychological, and spiritual help, with a chance of being successfully reintegrated into society as a healthy and productive citizen,” Go explained. 

Go further emphasized that the proposed law aims to complement a tough anti-drug campaign with an equally determined rehabilitation program.

Under SBN 665, these drug rehab centers will offer programs designed to rebuild self-confidence, restore working abilities, and cultivate a sense of personal responsibility among recovering drug dependents.

The centers will also engage parents, guardians, and relatives in the care and rehabilitation process, and encourage participation by private organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith communities.

To support this initiative, Go filed SBN 683, or the Simplified Drug Rehabilitation Admission Process Act, which seeks to simplify the process of admission into rehabilitation facilities.

SBN 683 primarily seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Go noted that currently, drug dependents seeking voluntary treatment must secure a court order before admission — a burdensome requirement that discourages many from seeking help.

According to Go, the bill seeks to address this loophole by allowing applications for voluntary confinement to be filed directly with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), thereby, eliminating judicial proceedings as a precondition for rehabilitation.

This would simplify the process of committing to rehabilitation so that drug dependents who wish to reform can do so without being hampered by unnecessary bureaucracy.

“Those who want to undergo rehabilitation should not be made to suffer. They should be given the opportunity and an easier process to change their lives so that they can become productive members of their families and society,” Go said. 

Under the proposed amendment, the DDB — with the assistance of DOH-accredited physicians — will evaluate applications, issue confinement orders if necessary, and designate an appropriate treatment facility.

The measure also puts in place safeguards to due process, including the right to appeal DDB decisions to the Court of Appeals.

Go said these two bills demonstrate that an effective anti-drug strategy requires both the establishment of accessible, modern rehabilitation centers through SBN 665 and the removal of procedural barriers to treatment through SBN 683.

The senator further said it is imperative that anti-drug measures must balance enforcement with compassion, focusing not only on punishing offenders but also on caring for victims of drug abuse.