House to consolidate 27 bills on creation of rehab centers

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs has approved the creation of a technical working group that will consolidate all 27 proposals pertaining to the establishment of drug rehabilitation centers in various areas in the country.

The panel, headed by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, approved the creation of the working group  during a hearing held before the congressional Halloween break.

Among those included in the consolidation of measures is the proposal of Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez seeking to create the Palo Drug Rehabilitation Center.

“What we should establish are centers that will help reform drug users, facilities that will offer counseling, spiritual development and livelihood training,” she said in her House Bill 345.  

House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte agreed with Romualdez.

Villafuerte filed a similar measure, House Bill 265, which seeks to establish a drug rehabilitation center in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

Abu, for his part, filed House Bill 9 which also seeks the creation of more drug rehabilitation centers nationwide.

“Transforming a life of addiction to a life of recovery and sobriety takes time and the proper facilities. We need to have rehabilitation centers to help drug dependents rebuild their lives and become productive once more,” Villafuerte said.

Abu’s co-author in House Bill 9 was Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“We call for the immediate passage of this bill so drug dependents will have a greater opportunity for rehabilitation and eventual reintegration to the community,” he said.  

“With appropriate public-private sector partnerships, we can collectively help drug victims to get right back on track and pursue life aspirations that temporarily took a backseat,” Abu said.

Members of the Barbers committee agreed that the consolidation of all bills will fast-track finalization of a substitute measure whose eventual enactment into law will greatly help in reforming and improving the lives of drug dependents.