CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 26 — Lengthening the strides towards a drug-free community, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, in
partnership with the local government units, attached agencies, and other key
stakeholders, partakes in the grand launching of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y
Ayawan (BIDA) program at the Xavier University Sports Complex, on Saturday, November 26.

The simultaneous launching also took place at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City; Cebu Plaza Independencia, Cebu City; and the People’s Park in Davao City.

In his opening message, DILG 10 Regional Director Wilhelm M. Suyko, CESO IV, calls on the public to be BIDA advocates against illegal drugs, urging the public to
continue its support to the program.

“The war on drugs is not yet over. That is why we are all here today to continue on
manifesting our full strong support in our campaign against illegal drugs.Dahil sa problemang ito, hindi ang gobyerno ang BIDA, kung hindi tayong lahat ang BIDA sa adbokasiyang ito,” RD Suyko said.

1,900 BIDA advocates against illegal drugs

Approximately 1,900 participants from all over Northern Mindanao actively showed strong support to the government’s BIDA program.

In the region, the BIDA launching kicked off with a morning zumba party, and followed by the main program. It was graced by DILG Undersecretary Juan Victor R. Llamas, Assistant Secretary Rolando C. Puno, Asec. DILG 10 Regional Director
Wilhelm M. Suyko, CESO IV, DILG IX Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil, DILG CARAGA Assistant Regional Director Donald A. Seronay, and other officials of
the different government offices.

Delivering his message at the Quezon City launching, DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. said that the BIDA program is a nationwide anti-illegal drugs advocacy that will focus more on drug demand reduction and rehabilitation in the communities bombarded with arrests.

“Sa ating lahat, ang hamon ay ugatin natin ang problema ng droga. Dito sa BIDA,
hindi lang kapulisan at iba pang law enforcement units ang kikilos, hanggang grassroots kasama natin dapat dito (For all of us, the challenge is to root out
the drug problem. In BIDA, it’s not only the police and other law enforcement
units that will act, we should also include the grassroots),” Abalos said.

The launching concluded as the officials signed a unity statement to express their
commitment towards the national government’s priority on anti-illegal drugs in
their respective communities.

BIDA continues to promote a whole-of-nation approach in advocating and helping the government end the country’s illegal drug problem. It puts a premium on drug
demand reduction and rehabilitation in the communities and underscores the role
of drug enforcement agencies and other concerned government offices.

– (𝘿𝙄𝙇𝙂 𝙋𝘿𝙈𝙐/ 𝙋. 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙖)