“…Since 2009, a collaboration between the DDAPTP-DOH, College of Public Health of the University of the Philippines Manila (CPH-UPM), Philippine College of Addiction Medicine (PCAM), and the Group for Addiction Psychiatry of the Philippines (GAPP) has resulted to the development of two basic training courses -one for physicians and another for rehabilitation practitioners -and the training and accreditation of around 500 professionals working in DATRCs, hospitals, health centers, and other facilities across the Philippines. [6][7][8] In 2013, the four collaborating organizations embarked on the conceptualization of advanced and specialized training courses that aimed to expand the coverage of the existing basic training courses -which we described in detail elsewhere 7,8 -after careful consideration of feedback received by the DOH from practitioners in the field. Among others, the plan was to deploy advanced courses in screening and assessment (Level 2a) as well as treatment planning and management (Level 2b); a refresher course for physicians accredited by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) under the prior dangerous drugs statute; and an executive course for heads of drug rehabilitation facilities, and decision-makers and policymakers involved in drug rehabilitation.…”