At the onset, the Department supports and interposes no objection on the passage of the subject

legislative mesure. Due to the current administration's war on drugs, there has been a drastic increase
of apprehended or arrested drug dependent personalities, including those who voluntary surrendered
for drug rehabilitation. Thus, to avoid over-crowding in our penal and drug-rehabilitation establishments
and to properly address drug dependence, there is a growing need to rehabilitate these drug dependent
personalities, for their contrition and reformation.

However, it must be emphasized that since the subject matter therein involves the use of correctional
facilities in our country, this Department requested the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
(BJMP) to submit its comments and/or recommendations. We shall submit the Department’s position
paper as soon as we receive the comments and/or recommendation of the BJMP.

Likewise, as to other aspects of the subject measure concerning drug dependence as a health problem
and services offered by rehabilitation centers in the country, the Department defers to the positions of
the Department of Health (DOH), and other agencies which have mandate and technical expertise on
the subject matter.

The Department does not interpose any objection on the passage of the proposed legislative measure
seeking to provide hazard pay to all public prosecutors in the National Prosecution Service.

The purpose of a hazard pay is to compensate an employee for doing a duty that could result in serious
injury or death. Personnel or employees whose roles may cause them to have extreme physical
discomfort, or emotional or physiological distress, or their work will place them in danger or peril, must
be eligible for hazard pay due to the hardship of their obligation. Thus, these prosecutors who may
become targets of assaults or attacks by disgruntled or dissastisfied party litigants must be given a
hazard pay as their lives or immediate family is put to risk because of their public functions.

Nonetheless, may we defer to the positions of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Civil Service
Commission, and other relevant agencies which have mandate and expertise on the subject matter.
Since the subject legislative measures involves the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10349,
otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act, and personnel movement and discipline in the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), this Department defers to the positions of the Armed Forces and other
relevant agencies. The subject matter on hand is cognizable by the said government agencies and is not
within the jurisdiction and mandate of this Department.