To achieve the overall goal of the government to champion a whole-of-the-nation approach to mitigating the use of illegal drugs, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Leyte Field Office, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Leyte and the private sector, spearheaded the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Fun Run at MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial Park, Palo, Leyte.
The activity gathered around 5,500 participants from the different municipalities and cities of the Province of Leyte, including those of the line agencies in Eastern Visayas. The said attendees were one with the aim of a whole-of-the-nation approach to mitigating illegal drug use in the province.
Gracing the fun run were DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos and Undersecretaries USec Marlo Iringan, Undersecretary for Local Government; USec Oscar Valenzuela, Undersecretary for Peace and Order; and Usec Felicito Valmocina, Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs, to show support for the BIDA Program endeavor.
Abalos shared the importance of the BIDA Program to mitigate drug addiction and use in the country.
He also reiterated the importance of the participation of the barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), and other organizations in the community in ending drug use at the grassroots level.
Since its regional launch in February 2023, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, and Leyte have been able to launch the BIDA Program.