DILG, PBA partner vs illegal drugs
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) extended its fight against illegal drugs to the grounds of the sporting arena by sealing a partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
In a press conference held at the Araneta Coliseum during game 4 of the Ginebra-Talk n Text finals, Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said that the government will be banking largely on the massive influence of basketball to the Filipinos especially the youth in communicating the objective of Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.
“BIDA is not only focused on supply reduction but also centered on demand reduction. Usually, naka-focus ang mga pushers sa mga bata. Sa basketball, kids have their idols . Whatever their idols do, susundin ng mga bata. We have to set a good example for our youth – napakalaking bagay if the players and the league themselves make a stand, saying that they are against illegal drugs, Abalos said.
The PBA through its Commissioner Willie Marcial and Chairman Ricky Vargas sealed through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DILG Secretary, a partnership which they hoped would spark and reinvigorate the message of the BIDA program by leveraging the league’s audience nationwide reach.
Abalos said it was the first time that the PBA has partnered with the government in the campaign against the drug menace.
“The partnership of DILG and PBA will not only strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs, but will also send out a message to the PBA teams, players and fans, that the league is against and will not tolerate the adverse effects of illegal drugs,” he stressed.
Abalos also emphasized the indispensable role of sports as a deterrent against the use of illegal drugs and with this partnership, the government expects to promote and advocate for sports as an effective solution to prevent the youth from subscribing to illegal drugs.
Under the MOA, PBA players will also sport the BIDA program logo on their jerseys during PBA-sanctioned games and disseminate campaign collaterals and advocacy materials in an effort to increase awareness towards its widespread national platform regarding the dangers of illegal drugs.
“Dito sa PBA, nadaanan na naming yung maraming krisis sa drugs, pero hindi namin binitawan. Katulad ng BIDA, we look at all the ways people get into illegal drugs and how they can be drug-free,” Vargas said.
