SENATOR and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go has manifested his support for the proposed 2022 budgets of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dangerous Drugs Board during a committee hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Finance.

“Alam n’yo naman po, full support kami ni Pangulong Duterte diyan sa mga ahensya ninyo. Hindi po magiging successful po ang kampanya laban sa droga kung ‘di po sa inyong tulong. At nakikita naman natin sa mga nakaraang linggo,” said Go, also Vice Chair of the Finance Committee.

“Congratulations sa inyong mga accomplishment- sa Zambales, sa Cavite. Napakalaking accomplishment po ‘yon. Nakita natin na nagtatrabaho talaga ang ating mga government workers,” he added.

The Senator said that the agencies will require every penny of fiscal support in order to fulfill their mandates and deliver on their promises. While Go agreed that the task would be challenging, he expressed confidence that the two agencies, commanded by Director General Wilkins Villanueva and Chairman Catalino Cuy, would be up to the task.

Go also emphasized the importance of the PDEA and the DDB’s role in the country’s anti-drug fight.

“We have done so much since 2016, thanks to the tireless work of the PDEA and DDB and our law enforcement agencies but, I believe, that we can do so much more. Let us make sure that in the remaining days of this administration, we continue to build upon what we have already accomplished,” said Go.

That said, Go reiterated his persistent call that our approach to the drug menace in our country must be multi-faceted.

“We must remember that drug users are victims in need of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual help. They can still be productive members of our society, and we must endeavor to take care of them as we do any other Filipino,” Go noted.

“Inasmuch as we focus on the law enforcement side of our anti-drug campaign, we must ensure that our efforts on treatment and rehabilitation are just as relentless,” he added.

To strengthen the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, Go filed during the start of the 18th Congress Senate Bill No. 399 which seeks to establish a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in every province nationwide.

Otherwise known as an “Act Providing for the Establishment and Support of a Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Every Province Throughout the Philippines and Appropriating Funds Therefor”, SBN 399 provides for the establishment of one drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in every province under the supervision of the Department of Health.

If passed into law, the center will be tasked to provide care, treatment, and accommodation to persons found to be drug dependents.

“Napakadami na po nating mga rehabilitation centers na nagawa – Nueva Ecija, sa Bukidnon mismo ang aming Majority Floor Leader ay siya po ang nag-identify no’ng lugar dahil gusto rin nating tulungan ‘yung mga gustong magbagong-buhay na po,” said Go.

“Bigyan ho natin sila ng pagkakataon dahil biktima lang rin po sila ng droga. Sana po’y magamit itong mga rehabilitation centers na itinayo all over the country no’ng umpisa pa po ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte.,” he urged.

Go then urged his colleagues in the legislature to expedite the passage of bills aimed at establishing anti-drug addiction councils and rehabilitation centers across the country.

“Ang problema lang po, kailangan na matutukan po itong mga rehabilitation centers dahil sayang rin po ‘yung mga hindi na po nagagamit,” said Go.

Noting that the drug problem is also a health issue, Go also urged the PDEA and the DDB to collaborate closely with the DOH in developing and implementing drug prevention and control policies and programs in order for the government to be successful in combating illegal drugs and curing addiction.

“Dapat po natutukan po ito ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para naman po mapakinabangan dahil ginastusan rin po itong mga rehabilitation centers at bago tayo magdagdag ng mga panibagong rehabilitation centers, dapat po’y maayos na natututukan po iyong pagpapatakbo nitong mga rehabilitation centers,” he ended.