Senator Bong Go has filed a complementary set of measures that aim to strengthen the government’s campaign against illegal drugs through a holistic approach of enforcement, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
Go’s Senate Bill No. 665 and Senate Bill No. 683 propose a clear policy framework that sustains anti-drug efforts while ensuring that drug dependents are given a genuine opportunity for recovery.
SBN 665, or the proposed Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers Act, seeks the establishment of a Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in every region of the Philippines, under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).
The measure aims to institutionalize a network of facilities that will provide care, treatment, and accommodation to drug dependents; promote 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.”
“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,” the veteran legislator explained, emphasizing that his proposal complements a tough anti-drug campaign with an equally determined rehabilitation program.
The seasoned lawmaker cited 2024 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) data showing that the agency seized P21.43 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested over 51,000 individuals, including minors and high-value targets — data which he said underscores the need for an institutionalized, nationwide rehabilitation infrastructure.
Under SBN 665, these centers will offer programs designed to rebuild self-confidence, restore working abilities, and cultivate a sense of personal responsibility among recovering drug dependents.
They 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 further support this initiative, the senator filed SBN 683, or the Simplified Drug Rehabilitation Admission Process Act, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, by simplifying the process of admission into rehabilitation facilities.
Currently, drug dependents seeking voluntary treatment must secure a court order before admission — a burdensome requirement that discourages many from seeking help.
“Huwag na dapat pahirapan ang mga nais magparehab.”
“Huwag na dapat pahirapan ang mga nais magparehab. Bigyan dapat sila ng oportunidad at mas madaling proseso na magbagong buhay upang maging produktibong miyembro ng pamilya at ng lipunan,” he explained.
SBN 683 addresses this 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.
Go stressed that “the process of committing to rehabilitation should be simplified” so that drug dependents who wish to reform can do so without being hampered by unnecessary bureaucracy.
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 bill also establishes due process safeguards, including the right to appeal DDB decisions to the Court of Appeals.
By filing these two separate but related measures, he aims to 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.
These legislative efforts reinforce Go’s policy stance that anti-drug measures must balance enforcement with compassion, focusing not only on punishing offenders but also on caring for victims of drug abuse.
“Bukod sa krimen, may masamang epekto rin ang droga sa kalusugan lalo na sa mental health. Nais nating makabuo ng mga batas para maiwasan ang paglaganap nito at mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga nalulong sa droga na magbagong buhay,” he previously stated, framing both SBN 665 and SBN 683 as integral parts of a humane, holistic national policy.
