Oversight body for anti-drugs law to get extension
A joint resolution extending the Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs for another 10 years has been approved in third and final reading in the House of Representatives.
The Lower Chamber underscored the need to ensure the proper implementation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
With an overwhelming 274 votes, lawmakers approved House Joint Resolution (HJR) No. 14 that mandates the extension of the life of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs constituted pursuant to Section 95 of Republic Act 9165 for another 10 years, or from July 4, 2022 to July 4, 2032.
According to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the House of Representatives felt the need to extend the life of our powers of oversight as the implementation of the law needs to be reviewed from time to time.
For his part, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, one of the principal authors and chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, also said that addressing the drug problem in the country requires laws to be constantly attuned to the changing times as information technology progresses.
Joint Resolution No. 14, as approved in Committee Report No. 221, is also authored in the House of Representatives by Reps. Dean Asistio, Arnie Fuentebella, Romeo Acop, Rachel Del Mar, Richard Gomez, Dale Corvera, Jane Castro, Gerville Luistro, Sancho Fernando Oaminal, Kid Peña, Ray Florence Reyes, Jose Gay Padiernos and Alfred Delos Santos.
The Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs is currently chaired by Barbers in the House of Representatives and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in the Senate. It is composed of seven members from each chamber.
Among the functions of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs are: Set the guidelines and overall framework to monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act; Ensure transparency and require the submission of reports from government agencies concerned on the conduct of programs, projects, and policies relating to the implementation of this Act; Approve the budget for the programs of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs and all disbursements from there, including compensation of all personnel; Submit periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and Jester Manalastas
