Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips


  View printer friendly version

(NAR) VOL. 29 NO. 1/ JANUARY - MARCH 18

[ BOARD REGULATION NO. 2, February 15, 2018 ]

BALAY SILANGAN - GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN REFORMING DRUG OFFENDERS INTO SELF-SUFFICIENT AND LAW-ABIDING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY



Adopted: 24 January 2018
Date Filed: 15 February 2018


WHEREAS,   Section  77  of  Republic  Act  No.  9165,  or the  Comprehensive Dangerous  Drugs  Act  of  2002,  as  Amended  (the  “Act”)  ,  provides  that  the Dangerous Drugs Board (the “Board”) to be the policy-making and strategy- formulating body in the field of drug prevention and control;

WHEREAS,   Section   84   (a)   of   the   Act   provides   for   the   Philippine   Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to: “Implement or cause the efficient and effective implementation  of  the  national  drug  control  strategy  formulated  by  the  Board thereby carrying out a national anti-drug control strategy formulated by the Board thereby carrying out a national anti-drug campaign program which shall include drug law enforcement, control and prevention campaign with the assistance of concerned government agencies”;

WHEREAS, Section 84(q) of the Act states that, the PDEA” ... may enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government,  including government-owned  and/or controlled  corporations,  in the anti-illegal drugs drive..”;

WHEREAS,  Section  51  of  the  Act  mandates  that  Local  Government   Units (“LGUs”)  shall  “appropriate   a  substantial   portion  of  their  respective   annual budgets to assist in or enhance the enforcement of the Act giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents”;

WHEREAS, the Board also issued Regulation No. 3, series of 2016 (Guidelines on Handling Voluntary Surrender of Drug Personalities) which provides for the guidelines  on handling  voluntary  surrender  of drug personalities  who are non- users;

WHEREAS, Regulation No. 4, series of 2016 (Oplan Sagip - Guidelines on Voluntarily Surrender of Drug Users and Dependents and Monitoring Mechanism of  Barangay   Anti-Drug   Abuse  Campaigns),   provides   for  the  guidelines   on handling drug users and drug dependents which includes interventions, training, livelihood, and monitoring mechanism”;

WHEREAS, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2009-09 (Subject: Unified Actions Against Illegal Drugs and Other Substances), which mandates that it is a principal responsibility of local authorities to support overall government efforts to address illegal drugs and other substances;

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide guidelines to complement  the provisions of Regulation No. 3, series of 2016, particularly on the coordination among LGUs with the National Government  and other stakeholders  in providing interventions to drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to provide guidelines for the reformation of drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered to authorities but are not drug users and the provision of livelihood training, after -

care and community/social  re-integration  programs through coordination  among the LGUs, the National Government and private stakeholders.

SECTION 1. Scope and Limitation:

The  Guidelines  shall  provide  for  programs  for  drug  offenders surrendering  under  Regulation  No.  3,  series  of  2016  issued  by  the  Board.  It defines “rehabilitation” as pertaining to two distinct situations:

Medical   Rehabilitation   -   The   process   of   helping   substance/drug   addicted individuals  stop compulsive  substance/drug  seeking  and use. It may involve  a series  of  bio-psycho-social   interventions  provided  by  health  professionals  to remove toxins in the body and modify behavior of the substance/drug dependent. This definition would usually apply to those who have tried using mood altering substances to and/or already dependent on these substances.

Reformatory  Rehabilitation  -  The  process  of  rectifying  or  modifying  negative attitude and behavior to enable the person to be more productive and acceptable to society.  This  may  also  include  facilitating  the reintegration  of the individual back to his family and community. This would usually apply to law violators who may or may not have used substances and/or dependent to these substances.

This set of guidelines will be for drug offenders requiring Reformatory Rehabilitation  with  the  end  goal  of  reforming  drug  personalities  who  are  not violators of Section 15 of the Act. The program shall be independent from interventions being undertaken by the drug dependents in Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers.

The guidelines  shall  likewise  complement  the Supply  Reduction,  Civic Awareness and Alternative Development efforts of the government.

The implementation of the program shall be endorsed to the level of local government units (municipal/city/provincial) in support of the anti-illegal drugs advocacy of the administration.

The implementation of the program in the Barangay level shall be dependent, but not limited to the capacity, capability and/or the state of drug affectation in the particular barangay/s and other related determining factors.

SECTION 2.   Rationale - In consideration of drug personalities who voluntarily  surrendered  as  a  result  of  the  government’s  revitalized  campaign against the Philippine Drug Problem, the PDEA shall lead the implementation  of an LGU-led program designed to provide family-based  in house reformation  for drug offenders based on the concept of BAHAY PAGBABAGO, a Reformation Center.

The BAHAY PAGBABAGO was conceptualized and implemented in the province of Bataan by the Bataan Police Provincial Office under the leadership PSSupt Rhodel Orden Sermonia.

Given the program’s success in the province of Bataan, it was later expanded  to the rest of Police  Regional  office  3 (PRO-3)  under  the orders  of PDEA DIRECTOR GENERAL AARON N. AQUINO, who was then the Regional Director of PRO-3.

By allowing every institution in the community  to be involved as part of the shared social and corporate responsibility  in addressing  the threat of illegal drug abuse, the Reformation Center or “BAHAY PAGBABAGO”  operates on the spirit of volunteerism without expenses being incurred on the part of the patients as well as the government and its instrumentalities.  It sustains its existence thru the  support  coming  from  the  corporate  community  and  civic  spirited/cause oriented groups.

The  BAHAY  PAGBABAGO  facility  is  specifically  designed  for surrendered  drug personalities  (who are not users/dependents)  where they are given  intervention,  counseling,  and  livelihood  with  the  end-in-view  of  helping them to become more productive and law abiding citizens once they are reintroduced/reintegrated to the society.

Relative  to  this  model  and  idea,  the  BALAY  SILANGAN  was conceptualized.   This   program   shall   also   serve   as   an   instrument   for   the reformation  of  drug  personalities  who  avail  of  plea  bargaining  in  light  of  the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Estipona v. Judge Frank Lobrigo (GR No. 226679, 15 August 2017). This serves as an alternative intervention for drug  personalities   who  are  not  eligible   to  be  admitted   in  Treatment   and Rehabilitation facilities supervised by the Department of Health (DOH).

SECTION 3. National Oversight Committee - a “BALAY SILANGAN” Program  National  Oversight  Committee  shall  be created  to be chaired  by the PDEA. The DILG will serve as the secretariat of the Committee.

Members of the National Oversight Committee shall include the PDEA, DILG, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Technical Education  and  Skills  Development  Administration  (TESDA),  Parole  and Probation  Administration  (PPA), Bureau  of Corrections  (BuCor),  Department  of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of National Defense (DND) the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Permanent  Members  of  the  DDB  or  their  designated  representatives shall serve as the consultants for the ”BALAY SILANGAN” Program.

DILG Shall issue an MC Directing its Regional Offices to provide the secretariat for the Regional Oversight Committee.

The  Committee  shall  have  the  authority  to  invite  related  agencies  to expand membership as the need may require.

Each member of the ‘BALAY SILANGAN” National Oversight Committee shall create a Technical Working Group (TWG) within their Agency that will serve as the OPR on maters  pertaining  to ‘BALAY  SILANGAN”  Program.  The TWG shall be headed by the Community  Relations Units of each member Agency of the “BALAY SILANGAN” National Oversight Committee (i.e.PDEA-PECIS, PNP- PCRG, AFP-CRS, or its equivalent).

SECTION 4. Functions of the National Oversight Committee:
a. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Program;

b.  File  necessary  administrative  and/or  criminal  charges  in  accordance  with applicable laws, policies and guidelines;

c. Coordinate the participation of all sectors in the Program;

d. To enlist the assistance of any Department, Bureau, Office, Agency or any instrumentality of the government, including any Government-Owned and/or Controlled Corporation (GOCC) in the Program;

e. Meet at least once every quarter; and

f. To  conduct random  inspection  and  audit  of  Drug  Reformation  Program facilities.
SECTION 5.  Formation of a Regional Oversight Committee

A Regional Oversight Committee must be established which shall be composed  of  the  Regional  Directors  of  the  PDEA,  PNP,  AFP,  DSWD,  DTI, TESDA and the DILG.  Representatives may be designated, however only the principal of each institution may sign formal documents.

SECTION 6. Functions of the Regional Oversight Committee
a.  Ensure  establishment  and  operation  of  Drug  Reformation  Programs  in  the communities (Cities and Municipalities);

b. Ensure Sustainability of Reformation Programs;

c.  File  necessary  administrative  and/or  criminal  charges  in  accordance  with applicable laws, policies, and guidelines; and

d. Ensure the inclusion of the following sectors/institutions  in the establishment and implementation of Drug Reformation Program, but may not be limited to:
- Local Government Units (LGUs)

- Livelihood (DTI,TESDA)

- Private Companies/Corporations  (Corporate Social Responsibilities)

- Educational Institutions (DepEd, CHED, Private Sector)

- Health (DOH, Local Health Offices, Private Health Institutions)

- Social Welfare (DSWD, Local Social Welfare Offices, Private Sector)

- Law Enforcement and Armed Units (PDEA, PNP, NBI, PCG, AFP, etc.)
- Other sectors that may help in the establishment,  implementation,  and sustainability of Drug Reformation Programs in the communities.
DILG shall issue an MC directing its Regional Offices to provide the secretariat  for  the  Regional  Oversight  Committee.  (OPR:  Regional  Offices  of PDEA, PNP, DILG, concerned government offices, and private sector)

SECTION  7. Revitalization  of the Anti-Drug  Abuse Councils  (ADACs)  - This  phase  provides   for  the  updating   of  the  validated   list  of  illegal  drug personalities   at  the  barangay  level.  It  further  provides  for  establishment   of necessary structures, manpower, funds and other needs deemed necessary for providing   livelihood   and   training   programs   to   the   drug   personalities   who voluntarily surrendered by municipal, city and provincial ADACs.

The ADACs shall also be in charge of formulating action plan for the Reformation Program in coordination with relevant institution and stakeholders in the LGU level.

The  ADACs  shall  also  serve  as coordinator  for the participation  of all
stakeholders in the implementation of this Program.

SECTION  8. Formation  of Provincial,  City,  and  Municipal  Drug Reformation   Program   Committee   and  Adoption   of  Program   of  Instructions (POIs).

The Provincial, City/Municipal ADACs shall be in charge in the forming of the Drug Reformation Committee and the adoption of its POIs.

A. General Interventions shall include, but may not be limited to the following:
1. Education and Health
a. Knowledge on Illegal Drugs
b. Ill effects of illegal Drugs
c. Lecture on RA 9165
2. Psychological/Spiritual/Physical Activities
a. Counseling/Consultative  meetings b. Moral Recovery Activities
c. Values Formation
d. Personal and Life Skills
e. Community Service
f. Exercises and Sports Activities
 g. Family Visitation
B. Livelihood or Employment Education
1. Green Revolution Program (Gardening*)
2. Soap Making
3. Massage Training or Reflexology
4. Basic Carpentry
5. Basic Welding and Electrical
6. Basic Haircutting
7. Food Processing
8. Mushroom Culture
SECTION 9. Networking and Establishment of Infrastructures

a.    The  concerned  Anti-Drug  Abuse  Councils  (ADACs)  shall  establish  and implement a Drug Reformation Program Committee in the Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities.

b. ADACs shall adopt POIs for the Drug Reformation Program to cater to eligible, Drug Personalities.

c. Establishment  of the infrastructures  necessary  for the program  such as, but may not be limited to:
- Classrooms
- Sleeping Areas
- Shower Areas and Toilet
- Mess Area/Pantry
- Library
- Clinic (accredited/monitored  by DOH Regional Hospital)
- Sports/Recreation Area
d. Provide  human  resources  who  will serve  as Personnel  and  Subject  Matter Experts (SMEs) for the Program in accordance with the requirements of the POI, The  PDEA,  PNP,  AFP,  and  concerned  ADACs  shall  be  in  charge  of  finding personnel and SMEs that will manning and facilitating the Program.

The personnel and SMEs may be provided by the following, but not limited:
- Government Offices (Section 84, para 1. RA 9165

- Privately Owned Corporations  through Corporate Social Responsibility (DDB Reg. No. 2, s. 2004: Guidelines  in the Formulation  and Implementation of a Drug-Free Workplace Program and the Conduct of Authorized Drug Testing by all Offices, Bureaus, and Agencies of the National and Local Governments, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations  and Other Institutes  of Learning  Including  State Colleges and Universities.

- LGUs

- NGOs
e. Ensure that financial and logistical support needed are proved for the conduct of  advocacy  activities, information  dissemination  and  media  relations, construction   of  Drug  Reformation   Centers,   as  well  as  livelihood,   financial assistance, educational assistances to program beneficiaries.

SECTION 10. Security - To ensure the security of the facility and to discourage unauthorized departure of people undergoing the Program, all Drug Reformation   Program   Facilities   must   be   located   in   either   PNP   or   AFP camps/bases and will be manned accordingly.

SECTION 11. Eligibility to the Program - The following personalities  are eligible to enter the Program:
- Drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered and do not belong to the PDEA and PNP Target List, Wanted List and Watch List or has any other pending criminal case/s.

- Drug personalities who availed of the plea bargaining agreement and/or convicted under Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) of the Act are required to undergo Drug Reformation Program which shall serve as alternate intervention.

- Drug  personalities  who  served  jail terms  for violation  of the Act are
eligible to undergo the Program.
SECTION   12.  Implementation   of  the  Program   -   A  comprehensive National Reformation Intervention Program Framework, shall be designed by concerned agencies, spearheaded by the PDEA to assure evidence-based and rights-based activities which conform with international standards and principles.

The intervention process shall include, but may not be limited to the following activities:

1.  Conduct  Supply  Reduction  initiatives  spearheaded  by  the  PDEA  Regional Offies  with  the  assistance  of,  but  not  limited  to,  the  territorial  units  of  the Philippine National Police (PNP) aided by provincial/national anti-illegal drugs operatives. (PDEA, Local PNP and Provincial, City/Municipal Prosecutor)

2. Initiate the conduct of Civic Awareness and Demand Reduction activities from the Provincial down to Barangay Level such as, but not limited to:
a. Drug Awareness Seminars/Training/Symposia

b. Preventive Education and Information Campaign

c. Lectures, programs, or for a on Ill-effects of drug abuse

d.  Implementation   of  measures  towards  drug  abuse  prevention  and eradication.

e. Engage the youth and students in the active information dissemination drive at all levels of the community.
(OPR: PDEA, Local PNP supported by: Local Government Health Officer, Local Government  Social  Welfare  Officer,  DepEd  Representative,  Barangay/SK Chairman and Local Sanggunian, NGOs)
3. Classify Drug Personalities in accordance with following DDB Regulations:
a. Regulation No. 3, s. 2016 providing for the Guidelines on Handling Voluntary  Surrender  of  Drug  Personalities.  (OPR:  PDEA,  Local  PNP with the Support by LGUs thru the CADAC/MADAC, PAO Local PNP)

b. Regulation  No. 4, s. 2016 providing for OPLAN SAGIP - Guidelines on  Voluntarily  Surrender  of  Drug  Dependents  and  Monitoring Mechanism of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign (OPR: All City and Municipal  Mayors,  All BADACs,  BADAC  Auxiliary  Teams,  C/MLGOO, DDB Authorized Representative)
4.  Conduct/Evaluation   of  Situational   Analysis   to  determine   peculiarities   of concerned  communities  as  basis  for  interventions,  services,  and  other requirements  to implement the Reformation Program. (In consideration  of the ff: Demography, Geography, Political Situation, etc.) OPR: DSWD, DILG, and Local Social Welfare Officers)

5. Concerned Institutions shall implement the Drug Reformation Program in their respective  AORs. Eligible  Drug Personalities  shall be enrolled  to the Program. The Program will have the following phases:
1st Phase - One (1) month reformation program (mandatory in-house)
2nd Phase - May vary depending on specific cases
a. Voluntary Surrenders subject to provisions of Regulation No. 3 series of 2016 may be subjected to an out-patient program for a duration of one to two months.
b.  For  those  who  availed  of  plea  bargaining  and/or  convicted  under Section 15 of the Act shall be subject to in-house intervention programs and orders of the Regional Trial Court.

3rd  Phase  - Livelihood  and  skills  training  program  with  skills  matching based on capacity and job opportunities.
SECTION 13. Funding -  Primary source of fund will be the LGUs in accordance  with  the  Act,  the  Local  Government  Code  and  issuances  of  the DILG.

Private Corporations may also provide funding through Corporate Social Responsibility. These corporations are also encouraged to extend drug abuse prevention advocacy and training to familieis of workers and communities under the Drug-Free Workplace Program as provided for in Regulation No. 8, s. of 2003 of the Board.

Further,  the oversight Committee together with the representatives of ADACs  will  coordinate  the  participation  of all Stakeholders  who  are  willing  to assist in the Program.

SECTION 14. Monitoring and Reporting - Concerned PDEA/PNP Unit in the Province/City/Municipality shall submit quarterly  reports on the Drug Reformation Program to the Oversight Committee.

The member Agencies of Oversight Committee will submit the quarterly reports to their national offices, copy furnished the Board. Each Agency will designate an office/service/unit to collate the reports.

SECTION 15. Penalty for Non-Compliance/Violation

Failure of the concerned officials to perform their function in accordance with  the  provisions  of  this  Board  Regulation  shall  be  a  ground  for  filing  of appropriate  charges  pursuant  to Section  32 of the Act, the Local Government Code and issuances of the DILG.

Further, failure of the LGUs to appropriate a substantial portion of their Annual  Budgets  to assist  in or enhance  the enforcement  of the Act,  shall  be ground for disapproval of the subject LGUs Annual Budget.

SECTION  16. Effectivity  - This Regulation  shall take effect fifteen (15) days  after  its  publication  in  two  (2)  newspapers  of  general  circulation  and registration  with the Office of the National Administrative  Register  (ONAR), UP Law Center, Diliman, Quezon City.

APPROVED and ADOPTED this 24th  day of January, in the year of Our Lord, 2018 in Quezon City.

(SGD.) Secretary CATALINO S. CUY
Chairman, Dangerours Drugs Board

Attested by:

(SGD.) Undersecretary EARL P. SAAVEDRA
Secretary of the Board
© Supreme Court E-Library 2019
This website was designed and developed, and is maintained, by the E-Library Technical Staff in collaboration with the Management Information Systems Office.