CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) – The Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program regional anniversary celebration in Kalinga on June 14 highlighted the united and concerted efforts of government agencies and various sectors of society in fighting the problem of illegal drugs.
Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., in his keynote message, underscored the importance of the cooperation of every sector in the fight against illegal drugs. He emphasized that the BIDA campaign is a whole-of-community and whole-of-nation effort, and urged collective community action to curb the demand at the local level, especially from the youth.
“Ako naman ay kumakatok sa inyo. Baka puwedeng ‘yung suplay na panghuli, kami na ang bahala, ang pulis, pero ‘yung demand, ‘yung mga bumibili na mga bata, ‘yun naman ang pag-usapan natin. Tulungan ang gobyerno, ang lokal, ang pamilya, ang eskwelahan, ang komunidad, ang mga pari, gawa tayo ng programa,” Abalos said.
[I seek your cooperation. Maybe for the seizures and confiscation of supply, the police will take care of it, but for the young buyers, we should talk about it. With the government, the families, the schools , the community, the priests, let us make a program.]
“Tulungan natin ang pulis, PDEA, at NBI. Basta kami, lalabanan namin ang droga at ‘yan ang pangako naming, at ‘yan ang ginagawa sa ngalan ng ating Pangulo. Makukuha yan sa panghuhuli ng mga pulis at PDEA, at the same time, lahat tayo gagalaw dito sa baba upang mga anak natin ay hindi na gumamit pa,” the official added.
[Let us help the police, the PDEA and the NBI. We will fight against drugs, that’s our promise, and we are doing that on behalf of the President. That can be done with the operations of the police and the PDEA, at the same time, all of us here at the local level will work together so that our children will not use illegal drugs.]
Meanwhile, Gov. James S. Edduba stressed on the importance of the BIDA program, and called for the continuing support to this anti-illegal drug campaign.
“Over the years, BIDA has highlighted stories of resilience, courage, and hope. The program aims not only to eliminate drugs but also to empower individuals and communities to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Through education, rehabilitation, and enforcement, it strives to create a drug-free society. Let us continue to support this program. With us together, we can and will make a difference,” Edduba said.
Out of the 1,178 barangays in the Cordillera, 797 are drug-cleared while 18 are still drug-affected; 171 retained their drug-cleared status; 10 are drug-unaffected, and 352 are drug-free barangays as of June 14, PDEA-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Christy Silva reported.
Silva noted that shabu or crystal methamphetamine remains the number one drug of choice in the region. Marijuana continues to be cultivated in Tinglayan, Kalinga; Bakun and Kibungan in Benguet, and in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Silva assured efforts are being made to curb the problem including the conduct of anti-drug operations and clearing of remaining drug-affected barangays.
“The current anti-drug efforts of PDEA-CAR, PRO-CAR, and other law enforcement units in curbing the cultivation, transportation, production, and sale of marijuana in its many forms are effective as manifested in the eradication, destruction, large volume of seizures and confiscation conducted for the period,” Silva said.
“Though there were marijuana that were successfully transported outside the region, some were intercepted by other PDEA regional offices and OLEAs. Hence, the marijuana problem in the AOR is still manifesting on the manageable level,” she said.
The regional BIDA anniversary celebration which was attended by over a thousand participants from regional line agencies in the Cordillera region, local government units, and other stakeholders, was also marked with a fun run, zumba, planting of more than 100 tree seedlings, and a Serbisyo Caravan where government offices and partner non-government organizations offered free services to the public.
There was also the “BIDA Diyalogo” wherein concerned sectors including law enforcement, prosecution, corrections, rehabilitation, youth development, and civil society organizations discussed and identified primary drug-related concerns at the local level, and formulated action plans to solve these issues. (Iryll Sicnao-PIA Kalinga)
