Written by: Jeffrey N. Almazan

In support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s goal to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and drug demand reduction, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) participated in the 3rd staging of the BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan) Program through a fun run activityin Greenfield City, Paseo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna on 12 March 2023 participated in by no less than DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. and Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas. Per DILG IV-A, around 10,000 individuals from the government and private sectors from CALABARZON Region and nearby areas attended the fun run.

In his message to the participants, Secretary Abalos expressed his sincere gratitude to the city of Sta. Rosa through Mayor Arcillas, for accommodating and hosting the activity in the CALABARZON Region. He reiterated the agency’s continuous efforts to advocate an anti-illegal drugs campaign and their techniques to effectively roll it out nationwide. He is positive that activities like this would create awareness and engage more to become an advocate of a drug-free community.

Per the DILG, BIDA is a nationwide anti-illegal drugs advocacy involving local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and other key sectors of society that will focus more on drug demand reduction and rehabilitation in the communities coupled with arrests.