Senate Minority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III has filed a bill seeking to amend the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165), which he principally authored, by proposing the establishment of a new centralized body that would further strengthen the fight against illegal drugs and drug abuse in the country.

In filing his bill, Sotto proposed the creation of the Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) to consolidate the country’s anti-drug efforts by placing enforcement, prosecution, prevention, and rehabilitation under one umbrella agency directly supervised by the Office of the President.

Sotto said this structural reform is designed to enhance efficiency and ensure a more holistic and coordinated approach to addressing illegal drugs and drug abuse.

“The law, as presently formulated, needs retrofitting, so to speak, like any structure or machine in constant use for 23 years now,” Sotto said.

“Supervision of enforcement activities is desirable to map out policies for more effective anti-illegal drugs campaigns.”

The veteran lawmaker noted that while enforcement has often been prioritized in the past, prevention and rehabilitation remain largely under-implemented.

He cited the Department of Education and the Department of Health as agencies that have struggled to fulfill their mandates in these areas.

Sotto stressed the importance of a balanced and sustained anti-drug strategy, calling for urgent reforms to avoid repeating past shortcomings.

“It is the goal of every nation and generation to have peace and order to bring out security, harmony and economic stability,” he said.

“All these so we may achieve a drug-free Philippines for the future generations. There is no best time to cure this social illness than now.”

If passed, the measure would mark a significant reorganization of the government’s anti-drug apparatus, positioning the proposed Authority as a lead agency that coordinates all aspects of the country’s drug policy.

The Authority shall absorb the policy-making and strategy-formulating functions of the current 17-member Dangerous Drugs Board, as well as dissolve the existing PDEA.