CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Strengthening the campaign against the use of illegal drugs through the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 conducted the BIDA Diyalogo on September 20 in Cagayan de Oro City.
This served as a venue for consultation with partners in government, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the judiciary, local government units, the private sector, interfaith groups, and civil society organizations on the prevalent drug-related issues and concerns in northern Mindanao.
Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr., secretary of the Interior and Local Government, said, “Ang BIDA Diyalogo ay hindi lamang isang simpleng pulong, ito’y isang mahalagang hakbang sa ating patuloy na laban kontra sa ilegal na droga.”
(BIDA Diyalgo is not only a simple gathering, it is an important step in our fight against illegal drugs.)
According to Abalos, the dialogue brings together stakeholders to learn from each other through open discussions.
DILG-10 OIC Yvette Tolentino-Sunga said the output from the morning session of BIDA Diyalogo serves as a reference or foundation for future discussions.
“The BIDA program promotes awareness, responsibility, and community involvement in addressing illegal drugs. Mao nang dili pwede nga kami lang sa mga national government agencies ang naa. Ang pinakaimportante katong naa sa grassroots level, ang atong Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council o BADAC,” said Sunga.
(The national government cannot do it alone. The most important elements are the ones at the grassroots level – our Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council or BADAC.)
Sunga also calls on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) to use these outputs to aid them in discussions and strategy formulation.
In the prosecution and courts sector of the discussions, Lawyer Aldons Januarious S. Bana of the Public Attorney’s Office cited that the root cause of drug addiction and selling is corruption.
“When there is corruption, people become hopeless; hopelessness leads to bad decisions,” said Bana.
He explained that a possible issue is people’s lack of understanding of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and ignorance of the seriousness of their actions or the trouble they are in.
Bana said most of their clients, with the exception of repeat offenders, are surprised and shocked when they learn about the legal penalties, which can include fines and life in prison.
Barangay officials and BADAC members present during BIDA Diyalogo participated in the ceremonial signing of the commitment wall, signifying their support to the DILG’s BIDA Program.
In response, Gusa Punong Barangay Marlo L. Tabac said that while the barangay local government units struggle with funds, human resources, and other matters, they strive to provide support to law enforcement during operations and other anti-illegal drug-related activities.
Tabac said, “Kami sa Liga ng mga Barangay sa Cagayan de Oro, we will always look forward nga ma-eliminate ang tanang mga problema nato sa iligal nga droga sa dakbayan. This is not an easy task, pero kung dili kita, si kinsa man? Kung dili karon, kanus-a pa man diay ta magsugod?”
(We at the Liga ng mga Barangay of Cagayan de Oro will always look forward to eliminating all our illegal drug problems in the city. This is not an easy task, but if we do not do it, who will? If not today, when will we start?)
He urges fellow barangay officials and the communities to come together to fight drug addiction.
Tabac also assured the DILG and communities that barangay governments would continue to support national programs under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos.
For his part, Secretary Abalos said that supply reduction of illegal drugs is the task of law enforcement, while demand reduction is the responsibility of communities to nurture the youth and keep them away from using illegal substances.
Abalos also reported that in the last two years, the government seized P33 billion worth of illegal drugs, the highest ever in the history of any Philippine President, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for the first two years in office. (SAYU/PIA-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Strengthening the campaign against the use of illegal drugs through the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 conducted the BIDA Diyalogo on September 20 in Cagayan de Oro City.
This served as a venue for consultation with partners in government, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the judiciary, local government units, the private sector, interfaith groups, and civil society organizations on the prevalent drug-related issues and concerns in northern Mindanao.
Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr., Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, said, “Ang BIDA Diyalogo ay hindi lamang isang simpleng pulong, ito’y isang mahalagang hakbang sa ating patuloy na laban kontra sa ilegal na droga.”
(BIDA Diyalgo is not only a simple gathering, it is an important step in our fight against illegal drugs.)
According to Abalos, the dialogue brings together stakeholders to learn from each other through open discussions.
DILG-10 OIC Yvette Tolentino-Sunga said the output from the morning session of BIDA Diyalogo serves as a reference or foundation for future discussions.
“The BIDA program promotes awareness, responsibility, and community involvement in addressing illegal drugs. Mao nang dili pwede nga kami lang sa mga national government agencies ang naa. Ang pinakaimportante katong naa sa grassroots level, ang atong Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council o BADAC,” said Sunga.
(The national government cannot do it alone. The most important elements are the ones at the grassroots level – our Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council or BADAC.)
Sunga also calls on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) to use these outputs to aid them in discussions and strategy formulation.
In the prosecution and courts sector of the discussions, Lawyer Aldons Januarious S. Bana of the Public Attorney’s Office cited that the root cause of drug addiction and selling is corruption.
“When there is corruption, people become hopeless; hopelessness leads to bad decisions,” said Bana.
He explained that a possible issue is people’s lack of understanding of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and ignorance of the seriousness of their actions or the trouble they are in.
Bana said most of their clients, with the exception of repeat offenders, are surprised and shocked when they learn about the legal penalties, which can include fines and life in prison.
Barangay officials and BADAC members present during BIDA Diyalogo participated in the ceremonial signing of the commitment wall, signifying their support to the DILG’s BIDA Program.
In response, Gusa Punong Barangay Marlo L. Tabac said that while the barangay local government units struggle with funds, human resources, and other matters, they strive to provide support to law enforcement during operations and other anti-illegal drug-related activities.
Tabac said, “Kami sa Liga ng mga Barangay sa Cagayan de Oro, we will always look forward nga ma-eliminate ang tanang mga problema nato sa iligal nga droga sa dakbayan. This is not an easy task, pero kung dili kita, si kinsa man? Kung dili karon, kanus-a pa man diay ta magsugod?”
(We at the Liga ng mga Barangay of Cagayan de Oro will always look forward to eliminating all our illegal drug problems in the city. This is not an easy task, but if we do not do it, who will? If not today, when will we start?)
He urges fellow barangay officials and the communities to come together to fight drug addiction.
Tabac also assured the DILG and communities that barangay governments would continue to support national programs under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos.
For his part, Secretary Abalos said that supply reduction of illegal drugs is the task of law enforcement, while demand reduction is the responsibility of communities to nurture the youth and keep them away from using illegal substances.
Abalos also reported that in the last two years, the government seized P33 billion worth of illegal drugs, the highest ever in the history of any Philippine President, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for the first two years in office.” (SAYU/PIA-10)
