Over two thousand participants from national agencies, local government units, the private sector, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations and students joined the official launching of the government’s anti-illegal drugs advocacy initiative dubbed as the Buhay Ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program last Friday, Mar. 3, 2023, in the capital town.
In hailing the success of the launching, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Uldarico Razal Jr. said that Catanduanes activity drew more people than the regional launching in Legazpi City recently.
Among the activities during the launching held in collaboration with the provincial government and the Virac LGU were the Unity Walk and fun bike ride that kicked off the event prior to the launching program at the Capitol grounds and the awarding of certificates of recognition to “high functional” Local Government Unit Anti-Drug Abuse Council (LGU-ADAC).
The event’s keynote speaker, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Edgar T. Jubay, said that the Catandunganon’s collective action as one community can resolve the drug issues in the province.
“Let us protect our barangays. Let us intensify our information collection efforts because without information from you, we don’t have basis to initiate actions,” he urged.
He encouraged the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) to remain operational and functional as the BIDA program requires a collective effort.
“There should be no let-up in our campaign against illegal drugs,” Dir. Jubay stressed. “Our job never ends by a drug-cleared declaration status.”
Governor Joseph Cua, on the other hand, likened the drug campaign to running a ship that needs the crew to be always ready and on their stations.
“All hands on deck! Bilang ama ng probinsya kasama ninyo ako at ang lokal na gobierno ng Catanduanes sa adhikaing ito. We had just started, and we still have a long journey ahead of us,” he said.
“Kaya ta man maging bida asin sararo tabi kita para mapundo ang problema kan droga sa probinsiya,” he emphasized as he urged everyone to heed the call to support this initiative’s implementation so that iot will lead to the goal of a drug-cleared province.
Citing the effects of drug use on families and future of youth, Mayor Samuel Laynes said the BIDA program, including the intensified Community-Based Rehabilitation Program, will help address the drug menace as he likewise reiterated his strong support for the Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order.
Other local officials and stakeholders pledged their support to the campaign against illegal drugs in a commitment signing and reading of a unity statement.
As the DILG’s medium-to-long term program in the national campaign against illegal drugs, the BIDA program aims to strengthen supply and demand reduction efforts by galvanizing the support of the community, LGUs, NGAs, law enforcement agencies, civil society and faith-based organizations.
The BIDA focuses on its three pillars: prevention; law enforcement, prosecution and correction; and rehabilitation, wellness and reintegration.
The DILG, through the PNP, will be in charge of supply reduction while the local government sector shall be in charge of demand reduction initiatives.
For their part, the NGAs, local special bodies, CSOs and FBOs will support all drug-demand reduction activities, provide technical assistant and assist the LGUs on the advocacy and education campaigns in the community.
As the BIDA frontliner, LGUs will implement the following activities based on their perceived need: multisectoral meetings and conferences; declaration of drug-free status for LGUs; seminars, webinars, symposiums and other fora on drug prevention; fun runs, bike runs, caravans, sports fests, concerts or music festivals; presentation of graduates of Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program and Recovery Wellness Programs; showcase of products from rehabilitation facilities; showcase of NGA programs and services catered to recovering Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs) and their families; inauguration of Special Drug Education Centers (SDEC) and rehabilitation centers; and youth-initiated or targeted activities and competitions.