Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is asking lawmakers for a budget increase to conduct a saliva drug-testing pilot program and fund its community-based rehabilitation program.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, DDB Undersecretary Benjamin Reyes said their agency needs an additional ₱308 million for these initiatives.
Reyes said the bulk or around ₱250 million of the proposed allocation will go to the agency’s community-based program, which aims to help those with substance use problems.
“We are hoping na ‘yung dalawang iyon … sana maibalik [We are hoping that the two (programs)…will be restored,” Reyes said.
The anti-illegal drug official said the remaining ₱58 million will be used to procure saliva testing equipment.
Reyes said they are in talks with technical experts from Australia, who may train DDB personnel on the testing method which could potentially detect substance abuse. The saliva test is seen as an alternative to a urine drug test.
The board’s proposed budget for next year is 52 percent lower than its 2020 budget, Reyes said, noting that the full implementation of programs this year mainly drove the decline.
