Advancing Drug Policy, Mental Health, and Tobacco Control
From Stigma to Treatment: A Forum on Medical Cannabis Legalization in the Philippines
The University of the Philippines Law Center Institute of Human Rights (UP IHR) hosted the public forum "From Stigma to Treatment : A Forum on Medical Cannabis Legalization in the Philippines" on 23 April 2026 at the Atencio-Libunao Hall, UP College of Law, UP Diliman. Held from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, the forum was convened in line with UP IHR's Drug Law and Policy Reform Project and in response to several bills filed in the 20th Congress seeking to legalize and regulate cannabis for medical purposes. With growing research suggesting the therapeutic value of cannabis across a range of conditions—including chronic and neuropathic pain, epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome, and appetite loss associated with HIV/AIDS—the forum sought to provide a platform for evidence-based and rights-informed dialogue on the legal, medical, policy, economic, and human rights dimensions of the proposed legislation.
The forum was structured across four sessions, each addressing a distinct dimension of the medical cannabis question. In Session 1, UP IHR Law Reform Specialist and Project Lead Glenda T. Litong examined the current legal status of cannabis in the Philippines and the human rights framework underpinning the push for legalization. Session 2 turned to the science, with Dr. Peter Quilala, Founding Board Member of the Philippine Society of Cannabinoid Medicine, and Dr. Donnabel Trias-Cunanan, President of Cannahopefuls, presenting evidence on the therapeutic potential of cannabis and the safeguards needed to ensure patient security. Session 3 brought the human dimension to the fore, as Mr. Chuck S. Manansala, President of Masikhay Research, and Ms. Lea Fullon, Executive Director of the Haraya Policy Center, shared lived realities and personal experiences with medical cannabis use. Session 4 focused on legislative pathways, with principal authors of current medical cannabis bills in Congress—including Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano (HB 1115, 1st District Isabela), Representative Javier Miguel Lopez Benitez (HB 317, 3rd District of Negros Occidental), and Representative Brian Poe Llamanzares (FPJ Panday Bayanihan)—discussing the policy objectives, safeguards, and regulatory models proposed therein. The forum closed with an open forum moderated by Atty. James Gregory A. Villasis of the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights, followed by closing remarks from Atty. Daniel D. Lising, LLM, MD, Officer-in-Charge of the UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights.
Isang Milyong Gabay 4: Championing a Mentally Resilient Philippines
Building on the momentum of Isang Milyong Gabay 3: A National Recovery Coaching Summit held in Baguio City last March 15, 2026, the fourth installment of this series—Isang Milyong Gabay 4—was held on May 7, 2026 (Thursday), 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Legazpi Convention Center in Legazpi City, Albay. The series, undertaken in partnership with Ancored1M, is anchored in an ambitious mission: to train one million Filipino mental health coaches and first responders by 2030. The summit extended an open invitation to the youth, government employees, teachers, and community members alike—calling each one to serve as a pillar of resilience for the Filipino people, particularly in the arena of mental health.
Isang Milyong Gabay 4 continued this mission with a focus on youth, local government unit (LGU) employees, and the broader Legazpi community. As with its predecessor, the event sought to equip ordinary citizens with the knowledge, skills, and commitment needed to serve as frontline supporters of mental wellness in their respective communities. The series reflects a growing recognition that mental health resilience is not the sole responsibility of clinical professionals, but rather a shared endeavor that requires the active participation of every sector of Philippine society.
Expert Consultation on the Development of Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Training Modules
On May 28, 2026, the Department of Health (DOH), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) jointly convened an expert consultation at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. The consultation was organized to review and refine the proposed outlines for a standardized, evidence-based smoking cessation training course—an initiative born out of the need to address persistent gaps in the Philippines' tobacco control efforts. While smoking prevalence has declined in recent years, the rising use of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other novel nicotine products—particularly among adolescents and young adults—continues to pose significant and emerging public health challenges. The National Tobacco Prevention and Control Strategy (NTPCS) 2030 has underscored the urgency of addressing both traditional tobacco use and the growing uptake of vaping products through comprehensive prevention and cessation programs.
The proposed training course is designed to cover Brief Tobacco and Vaping Intervention (BTVI), Intensive Counseling, and Pharmacotherapy, incorporating both adult and adolescent-specific approaches. The expert consultation served as an initial step in ensuring that the course content is evidence-based, coherent, and contextually appropriate for the Philippine setting. Participants were tasked with identifying content gaps, strengthening age-appropriate approaches, and consolidating technical recommendations to guide the finalization of the training modules. The outputs of the consultation—including a reviewed module framework and agreed next steps—will form the foundation for a comprehensive training manual, which will undergo further rounds of expert review to ensure its alignment with national policies and international standards. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to equip healthcare providers with the standardized competencies needed to effectively support patients in quitting tobacco and vaping at various levels of care.
Pharmacotherapeutic Guidelines for the Medicine Access Program for Mental Health (MAP-MH)
The ISSUP Philippine Chapter continues its active participation in the monthly meetings of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Medicine Access Program for Mental Health (MAP-MH). The MAP-MH, a significant milestone in the country's mental health response, allows patients with valid prescriptions to receive select psychiatric medications at no cost. The initial rollout focuses on treatments for depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, and includes antipsychotics such as Clozapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, and Paliperidone Palmitate; the antidepressant Escitalopram; and mood stabilizers including Valproic Acid and Lithium Carbonate—as reported by the Philippine Information Agency as of December 2025. Access is currently available in select areas of the Philippines, including Metro Manila.
The TWG convenes monthly to identify essential medicines for mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders that shall be procured under the MAP-MH. Guided by principles of cost-effectiveness, current treatment guidelines, and prescription patterns, the TWG retains the authority to revise or expand the list of covered medicines in accordance with the latest version of the Philippine National Formulary (PNF). The Chapter's continued engagement with this body reflects its commitment to ensuring that pharmacotherapeutic policy is both evidence-informed and responsive to the evolving needs of Filipinos living with MNS disorders.
Basic Training Course for Physicians on the Assessment and Management of Drug Dependence
In May and June 2026, healthcare professionals in the Eastern Visayas Region participated in the Basic Training Course for Physicians on the Assessment and Management of Drug Dependence. The course was led by ISSUP Philippine Chapter’s Dr. Clara Fuderanan, and is aimed to strengthen the competencies of physicians and non-physician rehabilitation practitioners in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and management of substance use disorders. It emphasized evidence-based approaches to drug dependence care and reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in rehabilitation services. The Philippine training model has previously demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing the knowledge and skills of rehabilitation professionals involved in the management of drug dependence.
