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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Abalos: P21-B worth of illegal drugs seized, over 95,000 arrested in 1st year of BIDA program

Abalos: P21-B worth of illegal drugs seized, over 95,000 arrested in 1st year of BIDA program

Published Mar 24, 2024 05:51 am
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(PHOTO: DILG)

A total of 28,000 barangays were declared drug-free while around P21 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized in the first year of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) campaign, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. declared Sunday, March 24.

Abalos said a total of 95,790 illegal drug personalities were also arrested, including 177 policemen, charged.

During the first anniversary celebration of the BIDA program recently, Abalos led thousands of participants from various sectors in the ‘Lakad Kontra Droga, BIDA Tayong Lahat!’ at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Abalos also highlighted the rehabilitation and reintegration aspect of BIDA, which yielded 1,534 local government units (LGUs) with their own community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) program.

“The CBDR program catered to 20,360 enrollees, 74 brand-new inpatient rehabilitation facilities serving 31,426 persons who use drugs (PWUDs), and 246 anti-drug abuse council (ADAC) exemplary awardees in the past year,’’ the DILG said.

Aside from Abalos, former senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora joined the other anti-illegal drugs advocates in the BIDA celebration.

The participants marched from the CCP Open Grounds, and Cuneta Astrodome, both in Pasay City; and the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City.

They then headed towards the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds where the program was held.

“Representatives from the recovering persons who used drugs (RPWUDs) group, religious sector, parents’ organizations, and Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) officials also reaffirmed their support to the program during the event,’’ the DILG added.

To further address the stigma faced by former people who use drugs (PWUDs), Abalos declared that the DILG is closely working with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide gainful employment for individuals who have successfully finished their rehabilitation program.

In his speech during the event, Abalos shared the results of the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay program’s pilot implementation, wherein law enforcement authorities immerse themselves by living in drug-infested communities to personally identify pressing issues and provide direct assistance to those in need.

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