The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday launched a nationwide anti-illegal drugs campaign dubbed “Buhay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan” or "BIDA."
The campaign involves the participation of local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, and drug enforcement agencies including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and others.
During the grand launch of BIDA in Quezon City, DILG Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos said the illegal drugs problem is a deep-rooted issue and so, it needs uprooting interventions.
“Kung meron kang isang puno [at] ang puno na ito ay gusto mong tanggalin. Putol ka naman nang putol ng sanga pero ang sanga ay tubo ng tubo ang iba. Kung gusto mong tanggalin ang puno, ugatin mo ‘yung puno,” he said.
Abalos said although police officers, PDEA, and NBI have arrested many drug users and pushers, the problem persists in the country.
“Kailangan natin dito tulungan ng buong bayan, ugatin natin ang problema… Nandyan ang barangay, ang mahal na simbahan, [at] pamilya. Kung may problema, alam naman ng barangay kung sino ang gumagamit. Down to the grass-roots, sinong tumutulak, sino nagtutulak, i-identify, pag-usapan. ‘Yung gumagamit, baguhin natin,” he said.
The DILG chief vowed that they will go after all drug pushers and users, and clean and strengthen the system to regain the trust of the public in the government's anti-drug programs.
The BIDA campaign was soft-launched at Rizal Park in Manila last Oct. 7.
