PAGADIAN CITY, Dec 20 (PIA) -- Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan (BIDA) program; an intensified war against drugs under the Marcos administration will be launched soon at the provincial, municipal, and barangay levels of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD)-9 Chairman and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-9 Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, made this announcement during the 4th Quarter meeting of the ICAD-9 Advocacy Cluster in Pagadian City.

“Under the present administration of President Bongbong Marcos, we will be embarking on an aggressive approach to illegal drugs but this time with some innovations. Maraming mga programa ang gustong ipa-implement ang ating presidente, especially itong bago na advocacy program on anti-illegal drugs, Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan o BIDA program,” Abutazil said.

(There are many programs that our president wants to implement, especially this new advocacy program on anti-illegal drugs, Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan, or the BIDA program.)

BIDA program is an intensified and more holistic campaign against illegal drugs to reduce drug demand in the communities underscoring the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) & other agencies of the government’s continued intensity in the war against drugs within the framework of the law, with respect for human rights, and complemented by rehabilitation and socioeconomic development.

“There will be a succeeding regional launching to be spearheaded by the Philippine National Police, with the support of all members agencies of the ICAD. This BIDA launching and advocacy program will also be launched at the provincial level, even at the municipal level up to the barangay. Kasi ang gusto ng ating Pangulo ngayon is yung talagang involvement ng community na kailangan in addressing the issue on illegal drugs,” Abutazil noted.

(Because what our President wants now is the real involvement of the community that is needed in addressing the issue of illegal drugs.)

The ICAD-9 Chairman highlighted these areas that the advocacy cluster will be focusing on at the start of the year 2023, while also looking into other strategies on how to effectively perform their functions. 

At present, the cluster is awaiting the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the BIDA program for its implementation.

Meanwhile, as of December 19, 2022, PDEA reported that out of the 1,904 barangays in Zamboanga Peninsula, a total of 455 barangays are yet to be declared as drug-cleared. 146 of these barangays are from Zamboanga Sibugay, 116 from Zamboanga del Sur, 88 from Zamboanga del Norte, 77 from Zamboanga City, and 28 from Isabela City, Basilan.

For now, 115 barangays in the region are certified unaffected and a total of 1,334 has been declared as drug-cleared barangays.

PDEA-9 Information Officer Darmalyn Jumlail said the drug-cleared status of barangays with newly identified drug personalities may be revoked. Therefore, she is appealing for the cooperation of the drug-cleared barangays to act and report information, especially on the proliferation of illegal drugs in the Local Government Units. 

Jumlail added that PDEA-9 is expecting new projects from the new PDEA Director General Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) commander Moro Virgilio Lazo. While waiting,  the agency will continue with the activities under the current Anti-Drug programs such as lectures, coordination meetings, distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, drug-free workplace program orientation, and training of trainers at both municipal and barangay levels. (RVC/CCP/PIA9)