A MEASURE establishing a community-based recovery program, specifically designed for children whose lives are affected by drugs, was introduced before the Mandaue City Council.
The proposed ordinance, now on its first reading during the regular session on Monday, May 19, 2025, seeks to institutionalize ongoing efforts by the City and its partners to provide holistic rehabilitation and recovery services to children who use drugs.
The measure, authored by Councilor Oscar Del Castillo, was introduced in partnership with the Substance Abuse Mental Health and Services Office (SAMHSO), which will play a key role in implementing the program if it is passed.
The proposed ordinance underscores the City’s dedication to a compassionate, health-focused approach when addressing drug use among minors. It is grounded in the principles of the 1987 Constitution and supported by legislation, such as Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, RA 11036, or the Mental Health Act, and the Mandaue City Mental Health Program of 2023.
According to SAMHSO head Ben Manzano, the proposed ordinance seeks to establish a system of support and rehabilitation for minors affected by drug use, offering intervention instead of criminalization.
Manzano said children affected by drugs deserve access to “child-sensitive, rights-based and trauma-informed recovery programs.”
Data provided by Manzano shows that as of 2023, 41.96 percent of first-time drug users in the Philippines were aged 15 to 19.
In Mandaue, 109 out of 1,106 active clients in the City’s recovery network reported that their first experience with drugs occurred before they turned 18.
Environment
Manzano said children were exposed to drugs because of the environment they grew up in, often influenced by older individuals around them.
He added that the Bidlisiw Foundation, a longtime partner of the City, will handle rehabilitation and aftercare services for affected children.
Pamela Uy, executive director of the Bidlisiw Foundation, said 70 percent of children who completed their rehabilitation and aftercare interventions have stayed off drugs.
“This is also a mental health issue. No one uses drugs just for fun — it’s often a reflection of something deeper. In many cases, it’s a cry for help,” Uy said.
Children under the program are either endorsed by barangays or identified by the City Social Welfare Services.
The proposed program establishes a continuum of care, from outreach and harm reduction to full social reintegration, delivered at the community level and integrated into the City’s health and social services.
Each child will receive a personalized recovery plan developed in collaboration with SAMHSO and the Bidlisiw Foundation.
The ordinance acknowledges that relapse is part of the recovery process, allowing children to reenter the program without penalty.
It also mandates capacity-building and training for frontline workers who handle youth drug cases.
Funding for the program will be incorporated into the City’s Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, acknowledging the intersection of drug recovery, mental health and local security.
If enacted, Manzano said, Mandaue would be one of the first cities in Cebu to institutionalize a public health and child-centered approach to drug recovery. / CAV