DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said preparations are underway for the "Buhay Ingatan, Droga Ayawan (BIDA) Bayanihan ng Mamamayan Fun Run" to be held in this city on April 30. 
 
It will be the fourth fun run schedule with Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. leading other government officials and runners as part of the DILG’s “grassroots approach” and at the same time encouraging the public to be physically fit and keep themselves away from the clutches of illegal drugs.
 
BIDA fun run and other sports activities were considered to play a major role in the government's endeavor to have a stronger community and a major element to encourage the youth sector to participate in productive endeavors as members of society instead of getting  involved in illegal drug activities.

“Ang pagsasagawa ng fun run ay bahagi ng grassroots approach para himukin ang mga mamamayan na maging aktibong katuwang ng pamahalaan para wakasan ang suliranin ng droga na nakakaapekto sa iba't ibang sektor ng lipunan, partikular na sa mga kabataan,” Abalos said in a statement.
  
At least 10,000 participants from various sectors in the entire Ilocos Region are expected to join the fun run, which is one of the strategies of the government in raising awareness and encouraging the community’s participation in the campaign against illegal drugs.
 
Mayor Belen Fernandez thanked the DILG and Secretary Abalos for choosing to bring the BIDA fun run in Dagupan City.
 
“Ako po ay nagagalak na gaganapin ang BIDA fun run sa ating siyudad,” Fernandez said.
 
The fun run’s flow of activities, roles and responsibilities of participating agencies, and creation of a Technical Working Group were discussed earlier in a meeting between the DILG officials and executives from the city government for the upcoming event.
 
This will also serve as a venue for national government agencies to showcase their goods and services to the public through the “Serbisyo Caravan” (Service Caravan) where booths and stalls of participating institutions will be scattered across the venue. 
 
The BIDA fun run was held previously at the Greenfield City in Brgy. Don Jose in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on March 12; Clark Development Corporation Parade Grounds at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga on March 5; and at SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on February 26. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)