(Photo courtesy: DILG)

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The multisectoral anti-drug campaign ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan’ (BIDA) program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was hailed as the National Social Welfare Initiative of the Year in the 2023 Gov Media Awards.

The Gov Media Awards is an international award-giving body based in Singapore that gives recognition to governments and organizations in the Asia region for the implementation of projects and initiatives which contributed to the creation of livable communities by catering to the welfare needs of the people. 

“Hindi biro at mabigat ang problema natin sa iligal na droga kaya kailangang kumilos ang lahat para masugpo ito. Sa pamamagitan ng BIDA program, lahat tayo ay tulong-tulong kasama ang PNP, PDEA, NBI at iba pang autoridad (The illegal drug problem is a serious predicament that’s why we need to take action against it. Through the BIDA program, our efforts go hand in hand together with the PNP, PDEA, NBI, and other concerned authorities),” said DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who virtually received the award on behalf of the agency. 

The BIDA campaign was launched in November 2022 throughout the country to foster a collective action that will strategically target drug demand and supply reduction at a grassroots level by means of implementing prevention and rehabilitation programs from anti-drug education seminars, service caravans, wellness events, clean-up drives, as well as other evidence-based interventions in line with the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS). 

Since its rollout, the campaign has gained support from about 31,000 stakeholders including national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), private sector partners, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations (CSOs). 

The DILG reported that 13 out of the 16 regions in the country have already launched their BIDA programs. 

Following the launch of the program, a total of 343 LGUs passed resolutions that will provide for the inclusion of budget allocations supporting the implementation of anti-illegal drug initiatives in their Local Anti-Drug Plan of Action (LADPA). 

As of December 2022, nearly a million drug surrenderers have participated in community-based drug rehabilitation programs (CBDRP) of barangays, municipalities, and city governments who recognize the importance of transforming the lives of persons who use drugs (PWUDs). 

A Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) was also signed between the DILG and 33 private organizations for the implementation of BIDA Workplace which aims to promote a drug-free working environment. 

The DILG likewise forged a partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Premier Volleyball League (PVL) to further intensify the anti-drug campaign through sports development. 

From January to April 2023, the BIDA campaign was able to serve as a supplementary mechanism for the conduct of 14-drug related operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) which led to the arrest of 19 drug personalities and the confiscation of illegal drugs worth P10-billion (183 million USD). (DILG/PIA-NCR)