Gov't launches holistic anti-illegal drugs program called BIDA

The national government officially launched on Saturday its anti-illegal drugs advocacy program dubbed as Buhay Ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA), described as an intensified and more holistic campaign.

The BIDA program will involve local government units, national government agencies, and other key sectors of society aside from drug enforcement agencies including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and others in aiming for drug demand reduction and rehabilitation in communities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday said the drug problem has to be addressed from the roots.

"Kung mayroon kang isang puno, [at] ang punong ito ay gusto mong tanggalin ang sanga, gusto mong tanggalin ang puno, putol ka nang putol ng sanga. Pero ang sanga, tubo nang tubo. Kung gusto mong tanggalin ang puno, ugatin mo, ugatin mo 'yung puno," Abalos said during the national launch held Saturday at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

"Ang problema ng droga ay parang 'yung puno," he added.

"Ang kapulisan natin, nandito mga generals, mga colonels, nandito PDEA, Dangerous Drugs Board, NBI, walang ginawa kundi manghuli nang manghuli. Makikita niyo, kaliwa't kanan ang huli ever since. Pero anong nangyayari? May pumapalit lang kung minsan," Abalos said.

"Kaya ang kailangan natin dito, hindi lang ang panghuli ng ating mga kapulisan, PDEA, NBI. Tulungan ng buong bayan, ugatin natin ang problema," he said.

“Hindi natin puwedeng iasa na lamang sa Philippine National Police at sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga dahil lahat tayo ay apektado dito. Kailangang lahat tayo ay kumilos na at makiisa para tuldukan ang salot na patuloy na sumisira sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” the secretary earlier said.

Abalos on Saturday said the BIDA program will work with barangays, the church and religious communities, and families to address the drug problem and rehabilitate those addicted to illegal drugs.

"Andyan ang barangay. Andyan ang ating mga mahal na simbahan. Andyan ang pamilya. Kung ang problema, alam naman ng barangay kung sino ang gumagamit. Down to the grassroots. Sinong tumutulak, sinong nagtutulak, i-identify, pag-usapan. 'Yung mga gumagamit, baguhin natin," he said.

Abalos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health will help in rehabilitation programs.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will help provide livelihood programs, while the Department of Labor and Employment can assist in finding job opportunities, he added. The church leaders can give guidance, he added.

"Andito ang DSWD, Department of Health for rehabilitation. Andito DTI — sa mga nagtutulak, magbago kayo. Tutulungan namin kayo sa bagong livelihood programs ninyo. Department of Labor — kung ang problema empleyo. And of course alam natin ito, spirituality. Kaya kailangan ng guidance," Abalos said.

The DILG secretary said the youth is the target of illegal drugs peddlers.

"Let's guide our children," he said. "Walang imposible. Gawin natin ito. Ang mga bata let's involve them into sports, culture kung anong gusto nila, ibigay natin. Ngunit bigyan natin sila ng kumpiyansa to say no to drugs. Magtulungan tayo, please, let's save our children. Let's save everyone's future."

Abalos said the BIDA program will work “within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development.”

He then issued a stern warning to drug pushers. 

"Magmula ngayon, sa mga nagtutulak, nandito ang kapulisan, mga general, at PDEA, gagawin namin ito: ipapakulong namin kayo. Pupunuin natin ang kulungan ng mga nagtutulak na 'yan. Aayusin natin at lilinisin natin ang sistema. 'Yung tiwala ng mamamayan sa institution ay lalo nating paiigtingin. Trust in the institution. That's very very important," he said.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto said illegal drugs threaten the Filipino family.

"Asahan ninyo na dudulog tayo, gagawa tayo ng mga programa para sa proteksyon ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino hindi lang sa Quezon City kundi sa buong Pilipinas," Sotto said during the launch.

Quirino Governor Dakila Cua, president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), then led attendees in making a pledge to support the BIDA program.

According to the DILG, since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in July, 22,646 drug personalities were arrested in 18,505 anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the PNP nationwide.

Some P9.7-billion worth of various illegal drugs were confiscated by the PNP during those operations, the DILG added. —KG, GMA Integrated News