MANILA, Philippines – Isinisulong ng isang mambabatas ang pagtatatag ng ahensya ng pamahalaan na para lamang sa pag-promote, pagpapaunlad at regulasyon sa cannabis industry.
Inihain ni Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte ang House Bill No. 3961, o kilala bilang Philippine Cannabis Development Authority (PhiCADA) Act.
Ang panukalang PhiCADA ang responsible sa formulation at pag-adopt ng komprehensibong development plan para sa cannabis industry.
Pangangasiwaan din nito ang implementasyon ng industry programs, projects, at services, ayon kay Villafuerte.
Dagdag pa, ang PhiCADA ay “formulate and adopt the Guidelines of the Philippine National Standards for Cannabis plants, its products and by-products including the rules and regulations concerning the issuances of licenses, accreditations, registrations, and commodity clearances for the importation of cannabis seeds or plantlets for the cultivation and production, harvest and storage of cannabis crops including the processing/manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and distribution or sale of medical cannabis products or by-products.”
Aatasan din ang ahensya na magrekomenda sa Commission on Higher Education na isama ang subject o kurso na may kinalaman sa cannabis industry.
Ayon kay Villafuerte, ang PhiCADA ay magiging attached agency ng Office of the President.
Ang ahensya ay bubuoin ng board na may mga sumusunod na miyembro:
Secretary-General, National Economic and Development Authority
Secretary of the Department of Health
Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Secretary of the Department of Finance
“The President of the Philippines shall appoint the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of PhilCADA. In case of absence or inability of the Chairman to attend any meeting, the Vice-Chairman shall preside at the meeting of the Board,” saad sa panukala.
Noong Hulyo 30, inaprubahan ng Kamara sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang House Bill No. 10439 o proposed Access to Medical Cannabis Act.
Lilikhain din ang Medical Cannabis Office, na nasa ilalim ng Department of Health sa oras na ito ay maisabatas.
Ito ang magiging primary regulatory body para sa medical cannabis, having administrative, regulatory, at monitoring functions. RNT/JGC
