The Dangerous Drugs Board on Saturday welcomed the approval of the bill proposing amendments to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The DDB with Secretary Catalino Salandanan Cuy as its chairman said in a statement: “Aimed at strengthening drug prevention and control, this (bill) is also seen to institutionalize plans and programs under the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS) which was approved for implementation by President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order No. 66, Series of 2018.”
Aside from the amendment of provisions that will help in the prosecution of drug perpetrators, the DDB welcomed the move of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to include the boards inputs in the measure.
Among them is the Section 23 of the bill which provides that Local Government Units (LGUs) shall appropriate a substantial portion of not less than two percent of their respective annual budgets to support local anti-drug abuse councils and establish anti-drug abuse offices. Maricel V. Cruz
“It can be recalled that LGUs are tasked under EO No. 66, S 2018 to formulate operational plans and to undertake both drug supply and demand reduction programs in their respective localities. The provision of minimum allocation allows proper funding of anti-drug programs and activities at the LGU level,” the DBB said.
The DBB also cited Section 25 of the bill which further strengthens the government’s holistic approach in curbing the illegal drug menace as it provides for the inclusion of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Transportation (DOTR), and the Executive Director of the DDB as members of the Board.
Moreover, Section 27 of the Bill provides for the reorganization of the Board Secretariat through the elevation of the existing division-level offices into service-level units, the DDB added.
“The DDB hopes that the Upper House will also carry these amendments in their version of the Bill and that this be successfully passed into a law,” it said.
