Drug Abuse Prevention Program in Basic Education Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P6:27 SENATE S.B. No. 446 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III AN ACT INCORPORATING A DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM IN SUBJECTS FROM GRADES 7 TO 12 UNDER THE K TO 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM, MANDATING CAPACITY BUILDING ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION FOR TEACHERS, TEACHING DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION TO PARTNERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The day we stop buying is the day they stop selling. I always say this because preventive education is the only way to combat illegal drugs and drug abuse at the earliest opportunity. The use of illegal drugs has been one of the most pressing concerns in the country as minors and the youth are continuously being utilized in the conduct of illegal drug activities due to their tender age and vulnerability. Hence, it is the policy of the State to protect minors and the youth from drug abuse and exploitation by providing them quality education at the early stages of their development in order to empower them to make their own informed choices by equipping them with critical and relevant information on drug abuse. When our children is knowledgeable at an early age about the danger and ill effects of drug abuse, they will no longer be curious to try during their teenage years. This bill aims to establish a responsive and inclusive program to equip the young generation of Filipinos with critical information and skills on drug abuse prevention - aspiring to safeguard and protect their lives and their future. The passage of this bill is thus earnestly sought.

} TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE } REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session } 25 JUL 10 P6:27 SENATE S.B. No. RA"H INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III AN ACT INCORPORATING A DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM IN SUBJECTS FROM GRADES 7 TO 12 UNDER THE K TO 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM, MANDATING CAPACITY BUILDING ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION FOR TEACHERS, TEACHING DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION TO PARTNERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Drug Abuse

Prevention Program in Basic Education Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy and Objectives. - The use of illegal drugs

has been one of the most pressing concerns in the country as minors and the 5 youth are continuously being utilized in the conduct of illegal drug activities 6 due to their tender age and vulnerability. Hence, it is the policy of the State to protect minors and the youth from drug abuse and exploitation by providing them quality education at the early stages of their development in order to empower them to make their own informed choices by equipping them with critical and relevant information on drug abuse. Pursuant to said policy, this Act aims to attain the following objectives: a) To educate minors and the youth on the types of harmful and illegal drugs and their pernicious effects to one's health through the program's incorporation in subjects from Grades 7 to 12 under the K to 12 basic education curriculum of the Department of Education (DepEd); and b) To provide minors and the youth personal and social skills on drug abuse prevention by discussing important matters such as the enhancement of self-esteem at the early stages of personal anger management and conflict resolution, risk development,

assessment and decision making, interpersonal and communication issues, and positive alternatives to drug use, among others.

Sec. 3. Incorporating a Drug Abuse Prevention Program in

Subjects from Grades 7 to 12 under the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum of the Dep Ed.- All public and private basic education institutions shall be required to incorporate a Drug Abuse Prevention Program in subjects from Grades 7 to 12 which are included under the K to 12 basic education curriculum of the DepEd: a) Grades 7 to 10- Health; b) Grades 11- Physical Education and Health; and c) Grade 12- Personal Development. The DepEd shall collaborate with the Department of Health (DOH), the Dangerous Drugs Board ("DDB"), and relevant non-governmental organizations ("NGOs") involved in drug demand reduction, to strengthen the implementation of the program in subjects from Grades 7 to 12 under the K to 12 basic education curriculum and formulate policies, guidelines, or rules and regulations for this purpose. Learners, school personnel, parents, drug counselors, and health workers shall likewise be consulted on the prevalence of drugs in the community and the personal and social context of the use of particular drugs prior to the formulation of policies, guidelines, or rules and regulations on the implementation of the program. The content of the program shall be in consonance with the standards set by the aforementioned government entities.

Sec. 4. Contents of the Drug Abuse Prevention Program. - The Drug

Abuse Prevention Program, in the subject "Health" for the secondary level, particularly for Grades 7 to 10, shall discuss the general principles on drug abuse and mental and emotional health such as, but not limited to, the following: a) Types of harmful and illegal drugs and their pernicious effects on one's body such as having a weak immune system, heart condition, nausea, and abdominal pain, among others; b) Ways that drugs can get into the body; c) Possible effects of the use of drugs on the health of others; d) Development of decision-making skills that will help learners to improve their quality of life and properly deal with negative situations not limited to, peer pressure which may lead to drug abuse; such as, but

e) Information on helping students manage anger and resolve conflicts to prevent them from using drugs; f) Enhancement of self-esteem; and g) Basic concepts and ideas on how to follow laws and the consequences of disobeying laws. The Drug Abuse Prevention Program, in the subjects "Physical Education and Health" and "Personal Development" for Grades 11 and 12; respectively, shall focus on the study of the surroundings and circumstances which may easily affect learners such as, but not limited to, the following: a) Environment of the learner and the affairs that he or she faces everyday which may prompt him or her to use and abuse illegal drugs; b) Guidance on how to respond to circumstances which may involve high risks and low gain choices and observation on different types of attitudes, behaviors, and emotional reactions on drug abuse; c) Learning and developing anger management, conflict resolution, risk assessment, decision-making, interpersonal, and communication skills; and d) Further cultivation of human values, importance of community, and seeking aid from guidance counselors, adults, and authorities when dealing with problems related to drug abuse.

Sec. 5. Capacity Building and Training for Teachers oh Drug

Abuse Prevention. - The DepEd, in consultation with DDE, the DOH, and relevant NGOs, shall establish and provide capacity building and training courses for teachers on drug abuse prevention to assist them in the employment of appropriate learning strategies and resources. The courses shall be constantly evaluated by the DepEd, in consultation with the DDE and the DOH, to ensure their sustainability. The DepEd shall require that all teachers continuously receive the capacity building and training courses necessary on drug abuse prevention. Attendance to these courses shall be considered as compliance with the corresponding completed hours of the required trainings of the Civil Service Commission ("CSC") for purposes of promotion as may be applicable. To the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the Local School Boards shall require their local public schools to make available to teachers the capacity building and training courses on drug abuse prevention provided by the DepEd. To the extent possible, these courses shall be conducted at a DepEd-approved location which is most conveniently situated near the local public school.

Sec. 6. Capacity Building and Training for Partners. - The Local

Government Academy ("LGA") of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the DepEd, the DDB, and the DOH, shall likewise develop a basic course on drug abuse prevention for the Local School Board that shall serve as a partner in the implementation of the program for the learners. The content of the course shall include basic principles on the types of illegal drugs, their harmful effects, and how the partners can teach and guide minors and the youth on matters related to drug abuse. The basic course shall be constantly evaluated by the DepEd, in its consultation with the LGA, the DDB, and the DOH, to ensure sustainability.

Sec. 7. Assessment and Evaluation of the Drug Abuse Prevention

Program and Other Reportorial Requirements. - The DepEd shall conduct assessment and evaluation to properly ascertain the sustainability, significance, and impact of the program on its learners. It shall submit to both Houses of Congress and the DDB, not later than May 31 of every year, a report on all activities related to the program that were conducted during the school year and any proposed amendments to the guidelines and rules and 19 regulations on drug abuse prevention.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the

implementation of this Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current appropriations of the DepEd and the DILG. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, in

consultation with the DDB, shall jointly promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to implement the provisions of this Act and issue the same within sixty (60) days from its effectivity. The IRR issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days 30 after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this

Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees,

executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, amended, or repealed accordingly.

Sec. 12. Effectivity. - Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR,

this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,