Republic of the Philippines

BANGSAMORO PARLIAMENT
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
BARMM Compound, Cotabato City
______________________________________________________________________
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BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY

(_____REGULAR SESSION)

BANGSAMORO AUTONOMY ACT NO.____

Author: MP Atty. Paisalin P. Tago

Begun and Held in Cotabato City on ______, this ___ day of October 2021.

AN ACT CREATING THE BANGSAMORO REGION ANTI-DRUG ABUSE COUNCIL

(BRAAC), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The problem on Illegal drugs has become a worldwide phenomenon. Drug abuse
affects all countries irrespective of stature, whether developed or underdeveloped. In
the Philippines it has reached epidemic proportions and is one of the top priorities on
the government’s agenda.1 An estimated four to seven million of its 104 million
population are said to be using prohibited drugs. 2  President Rodrigo Duterte has made
the crackdown on illegal drugs a centerpiece of his administration -- for which he has
been chastised from all fronts, in and out of the country. 3 However, there can be no iota
of doubt that drug abuse has severely affected society, cutting across all socio-
economic echelons and demographics. No one can deny that drug addiction is a
societal menace, resulting in countless crimes, financial problems, and broken
relationships, both with families and friends. 4

Relative to this, the Philippine Government had putatively utilized the different
branches of the government to curve if not eliminate the prevalence of drug menace in
the country. Evident of these relentless effort of the national government is the
enactment of laws and creation of offices such as Republic Act No. 9165, “An Act
Instituting the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended by RA
10640”; Republic Act No. 7160, “The Local Government Code of 1991, as amended”;
Executive Order No. 4 s, 2016 “Providing for the establishment and support of Drug
Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers throughout the Philippines; and Philippine
National Anti-Drug Plan of Action (NADPA) 2015 – 2020. Paramount to this is the
Constitutional mandate of promotion public health and the protection of the well-being of
every citizen from all harms whether physical or emotional.

1
https://www.drugabuse.gov/international/abstracts/social-political-economic-context-illegal-drug-abuse-in-
philippines
2
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1017569
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.
 For its part, the Local Government Units, under the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) had issued Memorandum Circulars. One of which is
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Dangerous Drugs Board
Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018 – 01 which sets the implementing guidelines on
the functionality and effectiveness of Local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils. The creation of
Local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils is a necessary instrument in the fight against
proliferation of illegal drugs as it serves as the forefront in putting hiatus to the different
dimensions involve in the continuous drive of drug abuse.

The Bangsamoro Government as forefront of justice and fight against evil and ills
besieging societal foundations is likewise emboldened and mandated to fight this
menace. Hence, the creation of Bangsamoro Regional Anti-Drug Abuse Council is a
necessary implement in the fight against annihilating the proliferation of illegal drugs.