The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) batted for the employment of rehabilitated drug dependents after they have finished their technical-vocational education and training (TVET). It supported fully the passage of two bills in Congress on the TVET program of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under Senate Bill No. 2276 (SB 2276) and House Bill No. 7721 (HB 7721). "Legislating the said program is a concrete way to reduce the stigma against reformed drug users and helps facilitate their reintegration into society," the CHR said in a statement issued on Wednesday, Aug. 2. SB 2276 is authored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, while HB 7721 is jointly authored by Reps. Alfel Bascug, Eddiebong Plaza, and Joseph "Caraps" Paduano. The CHR said the main goal of both bills is to incentivize companies and establishments that provide employment to rehabilitated drug users who have completed their TVET courses. "This will help ensure that there will be companies and industries that will provide gainful employment for reformed drug users," the CHR said. "Through the TVET program, participants will not only be equipped with practical skills that can enable them to flourish in the workplace, but also valuable knowledge that will help them to adjust smoothly," it said. The CHR lamented the stigma surrounding substance use and addiction since Filipinos, who are largely religious, sadly associate drug use to social-moral decay. But, it said, this mindset is an attack to human dignity. It also said: "The previous administration’s so-called war on drugs also exemplified the stigma against persons who use drugs. The proposed bills manifest a shift in the State’s perspective on its view of persons who use drugs as they recognize their inherent human dignity and that they have a chance, not only to be reformed, but to be reintegrated meaningfully into society and to thrive in their chosen field." Based on recent data, the CHR said that more persons who use drugs have voluntarily opted to undergo treatment and intervention because there is better accessibility of rehabilitation centers. Senator Estrada had earlier cited that those admitted in 70 rehabilitation centers nationwide totaled 3,865, which represents a 43 percent increase from the 2022 data from the Dangerous Drugs Board. The CHR also cited TESDA’s data which showed that in 2021, a total of 8,200 out of 8,700 former drug dependents who participated in TVET were able to graduate from their courses. The figures, the CHR said, reflect the government's sincere support for the recovery and reintegration of persons with substance abuse. "CHR is hopeful that the proposed bills can gradually help eliminate the stigma and mistreatment associated with substance use as more avail themselves of the program and are successfully reintegrated into society," it said.