Pubdate: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/frntpage.asp Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 Author: Ferdie J. Maglalang DRUGS, 3 OTHER NEW LAWS SIGNED President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed yesterday four new laws of national importance, one of which imposes heavy fines and stiff penalties for illegal drug trafficking. The President led the ceremonial signing of the four new laws amid a political crisis confronting both houses of Congress which had adjourned sine die for their six-week recess ahead of the scheduled adjournment date in the wake of an opposition coup in the Senate. The four new laws signed were: - - RA 9165, the 2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, which imposes capital punishment on those convicted for selling, trading, trafficking, importing, and cultivating dangerous drugs and their controlled precursors, including ecstasy, - - RA 9166, a law increasing the base pay of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to make salaries of soldiers at par with their counterparts in the Philippine National Police (PNP); - - RA 9167, a law creating the Film Development Council of the Philippines and setting up a Cinema Evaluation System that will provide an incentive reward system for movie producers. - - RA 9168, the 2002 Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act which seeks to protect and secure the rights of plant breeders with respect to their new plant varieties through an effective intellectual property system. The signing of these four new laws brings to a total of nine the new laws approved in this first regular session of the 12th Congress that have been signed by President Arroyo . The President had earlier signed the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the 2002 Rent Reform Act, the 2002 General Appropriations Act, the National Service Training Program, and the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. RA 9165, one of the laws given top priority by the Arroyo administration, also seeks a mandatory drug testing for drivers of motor vehicles and firearm holders and random drug testing for students and private and government employees. To further protect the country's youth against the dangers of illegal drugs, the new law also seeks compulsory education on dangerous drugs for elementary, secondary, and college students. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk