The Department of the Interior and Local Government through Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. has embarked and advocated an anti-illegal drugs medium to long-term program aligned with the President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr’s administration campaign that is “within the framework of law and with respect of human rights which focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development.”
The BIDA Program is a holistic approach in countering the proliferation of illegal and dangerous drugs. It strengthens the country’s hiatus battle cry to lessen drug supply and demand reduction initiatives.
On October 8, 2022, the BIDA Program was launched at the Rizal Park Hotel, where concerned offices and agencies pledged their commitment to the implementation of the program through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement.
Right there and then, it was followed by simultaneous grand launching conducted in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on November 26, 2022, amplifying the call to support and in the process of educating and informing the general public about the program.
The BIDA Program focusses on the following pillars: Prevention; Law enforcement, prosecution, and correction; and Rehabilitation, wellness, and reintegration. With the objectives: To raise awareness on the ill effects of dangerous drugs; To promote health and wellness; To strengthen institutions in the implementation of drug supply and demand reduction activities; and To encourage multi-sectoral participation.
In support to the program, the PNP under the leadership of PGEN BENJAMIN CASUGA ACORDA, JR, Chief, Philippine National Police collaborated with partner offices, agencies and stakeholders in the conduct of significant initiatives to include: the BIDA Rollout activities in different regions, nationwide; and the BIDA Program Validation in different district and provincial offices.
In a span of one year, the BIDA Program through the Philippine National Police successfully conducted illegal drug awareness and prevention campaigns across 99,409 schools; 297,401 barangays; and 114,590 workplaces with at least 8,529,267 participants nationwide. It also disseminated around 5,876,915 of anti-illegal drugs informative materials.
Likewise, the program facilitated a total of 249,759 house visitations to PWUDs across the archipelago, and welcomed at least 2,059 PWUDs/surrenderers. More importantly, BIDA Program significantly increased its well informed and dedicated members after recording a total of 503,272 BIDA Advocates who are devoted to the program’s cause from all over the country.
In its intensive campaign against illegal drugs, PNP remarkably conducted a total of 46,267 police operations, neutralizing a total of 60,120 drug personalities, of which 60,005 were arrested while 115 were casualties during the said police operation. It also recorded a significant amount of confiscated illegal drugs with an estimated Standard Drug Price of Php19,205,045,526.49
For the PNP Recovery and Wellness Program, a total of 39,146 persons who used drugs graduated from both PNP initiated and supported programs. Through the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, these PWUDs graduates are constantly given assessment and monitoring relative with their status and recovery as well as with their reintegration with the mainstream society.
Out of 42,027 barangays, 27,748 were drug-cleared with 7,785 remaining drug affected barangays. By sustaining effective measures and initiatives anchored on a synchronized whole of the nation approach, Law enforcement agencies together with partner agencies consider clearing at least a minimum of 25% per year of the remaining drug-affected barangays, to achieve a drug free Philippines at the end of 2028.
With the conclusion of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, we are looking forward to widen our collaboration with the newly elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan leaders, to further deepen our commitment towards the strengthening of our newly formed partnership brought by the BIDA Program, paving the way for the reactivation of a much more active Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) members, as well as the effective involvement of Advocacy Support Groups in the creation of BADAC Auxiliary Teams.
Our productive collaboration with all other concern government agencies led by the Philippine National Police together with the different sectors in our community will allow us to fasten our battle against illegal drugs, as well as in concreting the sectoral and barangay drugs clearing efforts.
Together let us march towards a drug-free Philippines, where every resident is involved in the fight against illegal drugs, responsibly and productively working with one another to ensure a peaceful and thriving community that is free from any form of illegal drugs.
