COTABATO CITY (PIA) — The Bangsamoro government, through the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), has launched the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan,” or BIDA, to eliminate illegal drugs and promote a safer community.
The regional government also organized a fun run on June 13 to kick off the event, with about 1,000 employees from various Bangsamoro government offices participating.
Bangsamoro Senior Minister Abunawas “Von Al-Haq” Maslamama, emphasized the importance of the program in empowering communities to reject drugs and embrace positive change.
“Ang programang ito ay nakatuon sa pagpapalakas ng kampanya ng Bangsamoro Government laban sa ilegal na droga. Kaakibat nito ang mahahalagang aspeto ng batas kontra ilegal na droga tulad ng rehabilitasyon,” he said.
(This program focuses on the Bangsamoro government’s campaign against illegal drugs. This includes crucial aspects of the law against illegal drugs, such as rehabilitation.)
The BIDA Program is a comprehensive anti-drug initiative of the national government, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), aimed at promoting public health and community well-being through education, prevention, and rehabilitation.
MILG Minister Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, who spearheaded the BIDA fun run, stressed the importance of collective effort in the fight against illegal drugs.
“‘Nung tumakbo po kayo [When you run], we symbolize the collective effort and solidarity required to tackle the challenges posed by illegal drugs,” he pointed out.
“Each strike you took was a testament to our commitment to helping with wellness and protecting our communities within the BARMM,” the official added.
Dumama-Alba also urged every Bangsamoro to strengthen its commitment to working together, spreading awareness, and remaining vigilant to create a safe and drug-free Bangsamoro.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Region has also provided an update on the agency’s anti-drug operations through its Bangsamoro Anti-illegal Drug Task Force.
Gil Cesario Castro, the director of the PDEA in BARMM, shared that since January this year, their office has conducted a total of 519 anti-drug operations that have led to the arrest of 62 individuals from different areas in the region.
“Ang ating kampanya ay hindi lang nagwawakas sa anti-drug operations, tutugisin natin sila sa pamamagitan ng Anti-Money Laundering Council,” Castro warned.
(Our campaign does not just end anti-drug operations; we will pursue them through the Anti-Money Laundering Council.)
In 2022, the DILG launched the BIDA Program in collaboration with local government units, national government agencies, barangays, and religious communities to address the country’s problems with illegal drugs and rehabilitate people who use drugs. (LTB – PIA Cotabato City)
