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September 08, 2017
MODIFICATION/AMENDMENT #5 TO THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT ON NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OF APRIL 19, 2011, BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I. GENERAL
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the United States of America, (each individually, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) jointly agree to modify and amend the Letter of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (Philippine Government) and the U.S. Government, signed April 19, 2011 (the “Agreement”), in the following respect:
The U.S. Government will provide additional funds in the amount of $2,000,000 USD to establish and support a project designed to reduce illicit drug use in the Philippines. Funds to be expended by the U.S. Government under the terms of this Agreement will be allocated for a wide range of support to the Philippine Government on drug demand reduction programming that spans from community based approaches to national training and policy development. The U.S. Government seeks to support the Philippine Government in reducing substance use through a public health approach.
The full project description and project performance goals are described in Section II and III below. This amendment to the LOA dated April 19, 2011, does not alter the performance measurements applicable to projects enumerated under that LOA and its subsequent amendments. All other obligations, terms and conditions contained in the letter of agreement dated April 19, 2011, shall remain applicable and in full force and effect. Provision of U. S. Government funding beyond the current fiscal year is conditioned upon satisfactory progress toward project goals and availability of funds authorized and appropriated on a year-to-year basis by the U.S. Congress and approved by the U.S. Department of State. The parties agree that additional funds may be provided for these purposes, subject to the same terms and conditions as set forth in the LOA, as amended, without further need to amend the agreement to reflect the amount of funds provided. The U.S. Government will notify the Philippine Government when additional resources are to be provided in support of these projects.
II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Drug Demand Reduction
The Drug Demand Reduction Project (DDR) is designed to increase Philippine capability to reduce drug use through prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. The U.S. Government will support this project by providing a range of capacity building and technical assistance activities, including the training of drug treatment and prevention professional and improvement of drug treatment services. Programs may include, but will not limited to, training and professionalization of the treatment workforce, strengthening drug prevention education, supporting community anti-drug coalitions, building governmental capacity to provide health-based services, supporting alternatives to incarceration for those with substance use disorders, and improving institutional capacity and strategic planning capabilities. Assistance will be given in the form of specific projects and activities to be developed and agreed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), as the donor, and specific Philippine ministries, agencies, and/or organizations defined as beneficiaries or recipients for such projects.
Throughout the reporting period, the Director of the INL Office at the U.S Embassy in Manila, as the day-to-day in-country director, will implement DDR programming through close coordination with Philippine Government organizations, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other agencies as appropriate. INL will also coordinate with non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other donor agencies to ensure unity of effort.
Actions to be taken by U.S. Government may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Providing assistance to the Philippine Government on best practices to support existing community-based rehabilitation programs and develop innovative community-based approaches to DDR;
- Supporting training and policy development projects designed to build capacity among service providers in the Philippines on evidence-based approaches in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with substance use disorders;
- Supporting the creation of national accreditation system designed to ensure that treatment facilities are practicing evidence-based practices;
- Providing assistance to provide alternatives to incarceration and integrating substance use treatment into public health systems and primary care services;
- Providing assistance to develop public awareness campaigns using evidence-based practices to promote multi-sector awareness of substance use disorders, including faith based organizations, national and local government units, anti-drug coalitions, law enforcement and corrections professionals, universities, and the private sector;
- Commissioning research and evaluation activities on identified priority topics or areas;
- Developing a health information system for a Dangerous Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program; and
- Supporting the formation of an umbrella organization for support groups of families with drug dependents.
Actions to be taken by the Philippine Government include, but are not limited to the following:
- Providing U.S. technical advisors access to appropriate government officials and facilities, subject to proper authorization and protocols;
- Selecting appropriate participants for training and other activities;
- Submitting names for human rights vetting as necessary;
- Maintaining all equipment in working order and making it available for review by the U.S. Government; and
- Collaborating with the United States on developing drug demand reduction projects, to conform applicability of DDR programming in the Philippine legal context.
Toward these goals, the Philippine Government and the U.S. Government will take actions and commit resources on an annual basis as authorized by their respective legislative processes to support this effort. The Philippine Government has designated the Dangerous Drugs Board as the lead agency for coordination on Drug Demand Reduction Projects with the United States under this Agreement.
The planned life of this project is four years, following which the Philippines will have improved capacity to conduct awareness, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation activities to reduce demand for illicit drugs.
III. PROJECT PERFORMANCE GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENT VERIFICATION
The long-term goals of this project are to improve Philippine capacity to reduce the use of illicit drugs through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programming. Progress toward achievement of the project goal will be measured in terms of the following:
- The Philippine Government develops a plan to increase the number of drug treatment services to meet the needs of the Philippines’ population;
- The Philippine Government creates a national accreditation system designed to ensure that treatment facilities are practicing evidence-based practices according to internationally accepted standards;
- There is a significant reduction in the number of people with substance use disorders entering the criminal justice system; and
- The Philippine Government develops a cadre of experts in the field of prevention and treatment to train others in evidence-based practices to increase the number of addiction professionals in the field.
Methods of verification of project achievement include observation by personnel of the two cooperating governments and by reports prepared by the U.S. Embassy.
IV. PROGRAM EVALUATION
Representatives of the Philippine Government and the U.S. Government will meet at least annually to review progress toward achievement of the project goals and measures. Information to be considered in conducting these evaluations includes qualitative and quantitative indictors. These evaluations are in addition to the ongoing monitoring of programs and activities conducted by relevant personnel of both governments.
Done in duplicate at Pasay City, the Republic of the Philippines, this 8th day of September 2017, in English
For the Government of the
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