WHEREAS, the present drug abuse problem has reached a disturbing level, with 6,020 barangays affected out of the 42,979 barangays nationwide, 1.7 million drug victims reported and the illegal drug trade estimated to have reached P250 Billion pesos in 1998;

WHEREAS, in the 1996 survey by the National Youth Commission (NYC), seven percent (7%) of the Filipino youth aged 15 to 29 years old are drug abusers;

WHEREAS, about seventy percent (70%) of brutal and heinous crimes committed were reported to be drug-related;

WHEREAS, despite sustained and resolute enforcement of the Dangerous Drugs Law, drug syndicates continue to produce, smuggle, and distribute dangerous drugs, thereby undermining not only the peace and order program of the government but also its efforts to improve the social and economic condition of the people;

WHEREAS, demand for prohibited drugs continues unabated due to existing insufficiency in public information, awareness, education and treatment of drug dependents;

WHEREAS, RA 6425 as amended, created the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) composed of eight (8) ex-officio members, as the policy-making and regulatory body of drug dependents;

WHEREAS, at the operation level, several government agencies are individually participating in drug law enforcement activities, including the implementation of DDB policies and programs, with unsatisfactory results due to perceived weaknesses and lack of orchestration of their efforts;

WHEREAS, in order to have a holistic approach, there is a need to strengthen and coordinate the demand reduction and prevention campaign, education, information, and national treatment and rehabilitation programs of the government.

WHEREAS, the Administrative Code of 1987 vests the President with the continuing authority to reorganize the Office of the President and to transfer functions from one department or agency to another; and

WHEREAS, the seriousness of the drug-related problems in the country requires the immediate establishment of a National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC) under the Office of the President especially tasked to orchestrate and consolidate the drug law enforcement and prevention efforts of national government agencies, Local Government Units (LGU's), and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to have a more effective anti-illegal drug campaign at the national down to barangay levels.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation and Composition. - There is hereby created a National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center under the Office of the President. The Center shall be headed by the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as Chairman; with the Chief of the Philippine National Police as Vice-Chairman; and Task Force Chief of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force; Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board; Director of the National Bureau of Investigations; Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration; Chief of the National Prosecution Service; and Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs as members.

The Coordinating Center shall be manned by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the Chairman. The Executive Director shall possess adequate training and experience in the field of dangerous drugs, or in law enforcement, law, medicine, criminology, psychology or social work. He shall be assisted by a Functional Staff composed of Administrative/Logistics Division, Intelligence and Investigation Division, Plans and Operations Division, Community Involvement Division, Prosecution and Legal Division and International Cooperation Division. Selected personnel and representatives from the different participating agencies shall be assigned to the Center.

The Chairman may call upon any government agency to render assistance in the accomplishment of the Center's mandated tasks and functions.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions of the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC). -

a. Prepare and fast track the implementation of the inter-agency anti-drug action plan;

b. Prepare intelligence and counter-intelligence plans and programs to identify personalities and/or groups and their cohorts who are involved in the illegal drugs activities. In this regard, the Center may, in coordination with the DDB, and subject to existing laws, grant monetary rewards or incentives to informants who have given vital information leading to the successful prosecution of illegal drug personalities;

c. As the Center may deem proper, coordinate and collaborate with any government and non-government organizations with regard to intelligence, investigation and speedy prosecution of all illegal drug related cases. Towards this end, the Center may enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government, including government-owned and/or controlled corporations, in the anti-illegal drugs drive, which may include the use of their respective personnel, facilities, and resources for a more resolute detection and investigation of drug-related crimes and prosecution of the drug traffickers;

d. Coordinate with the Department of Justice Witness Protection Security and Benefits Program Committee to evaluate and assess witnesses who may qualify under the provisions of RA 6981, otherwise known as the Witness Protection and Benefits Act;

e. Formulate and implement plans and programs for international cooperation on intelligence and investigation relative to drug trafficking and prevention.

f. Coordinate and orchestrate the support and participation of Local Government Units (LGUs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the anti-drugs campaign down to the barangay level;

g. Recommend the enactment of appropriate anti-illegal drugs laws and issuances;

h. Perform such other tasks and functions as the President of the Republic of the Philippines may direct; and

i. Coordinate and collaborate with the DDB with regard to demand reduction, rehabilitation, education and information programs.

SECTION 3. Participating Agencies. - The designated representatives of the following Government Agencies and instrumentalities shall participate and assist the Center:

a. Department of Health
b. Department of Justice
c. Department of National Defense
d. Department of Education, Culture and Sports
e. Department of Finance
f. Department of Social Welfare and Development
g. Department of Labor and Employment
h. Dangerous Drugs Board
i. Philippine Information Agency
j. Philippine National Police
k. National Bureau of Investigation
l. National Prosecution Service
m. Bureau of Customs
n. Bureau of Immigration
o. Bureau of Internal Revenue
p. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
q. Armed Forces of the Philippines
r. Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau
s. Philippine Coast Guard
t. Philippine Postal Corporation
u. Other agencies, as needed

SECTION 4. Rules and Regulations. - The National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC) shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Order.

SECTION 5. Funding. - Subject to auditing regulations, The National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC) shall be provided with an initial allocation of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P150,000,000.00) to be drawn from the President's Contingency Fund. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposal for the Office of the President.

Adopted: 15 Jan. 1999

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary