THE Marcos administration on Saturday officially launched an intensified and more holistic campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse called BIDA or ‘Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ S. Abalos Jr. said the anti-illegal drugs advocacy program calls for a ‘whole-of-nation-approach’ in fighting the drug problem.

This time, government law enforcement agencies led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police will fully partner with local government units, national government agencies and other key sectors of the society including the Church and the community in aiming for drug demand reduction and an honest-to-goodness drug rehabilitation program in local communities.

The DILG chief underscored the need to address the drug menace from the ‘roots.’

“Kung mayroon kang isang puno at ang punong ito ay gusto mong tanggalin ang sanga, gusto mong tanggalin ang puno, putol ka nang putol ng sanga. Pero ang sanga, tubo nang tubo. Kung gusto mong tanggalin ang puno, ugatin mo, ugatin mo ‘yung puno,” he said during the national launch of the BIDA program at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Sec. Abalos said the program is needed since the government’s drug supply reduction program will only go to naught if there is a continuing demand for drugs specifically shabu and marijuana.”

“Ang kapulisan natin, nandito mga generals, mga colonels, nandito PDEA, Dangerous Drugs Board, NBI, walang ginawa kundi manghuli nang manghuli. Makikita niyo, kaliwa’t kanan ang huli ever since. Pero anong nangyayari? May pumapalit lang kung minsan,” he said.

“Kaya ang kailangan natin dito, hindi lang ang panghuli ng ating mga kapulisan, PDEA, NBI. Tulungan ng buong bayan, ugatin natin ang problema,” Sec. Abalos added

The official maintained that the PDEA headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo and the PNP headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. needs all the help they can get to really put a dent on the yearly multi-billion illegal drug business.

“Hindi natin puwedeng iasa na lamang sa Philippine National Police at sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ang kampanya laban sa iligal na droga dahil lahat tayo ay apektado dito. Kailangang lahat tayo ay kumilos na at makiisa para tuldukan ang salot na patuloy na sumisira sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” he said.

The DILG chief said that the BIDA program will work with barangays, the church and religious communities, and families to address the drug problem and rehabilitate those addicted to illegal drugs.

It jives by Gen. Azurin’s KASIMBAYANAN program or short for the active partnership of the ‘Kapulisan, Simbayan at Sambayanan’ in fighting drugs, criminality and other lawless activities in the country.

“Andyan ang barangay. Andyan ang ating mga mahal na simbahan. Andyan ang pamilya. Kung ang problema, alam naman ng barangay kung sino ang gumagamit. Down to the grassroots. Sinong tumutulak, sinong nagtutulak, i-identify, pag-usapan. ‘Yung mga gumagamit, baguhin natin,” he said.

The BIDA program will muster the full support of the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Trade and Industry and Labor and Employment, he said.

The DSWD and the DoH will help in the government’s rehabilitation programs while the DTI will help provide livelihood programs to the drug patients. On the other hand, DOLE will assist in finding job opportunities to the rehabilitated patients who will be getting guidance too from Church and other religious leaders.

Sec. Abalos said that the program aims to save the Filipino youth which has become a main target of illegal drug traffickers. “Let’s guide our children. Walang imposible. Gawin natin ito. Ang mga bata let’s involve them into sports, culture kung anong gusto nila, ibigay natin. Ngunit bigyan natin sila ng kumpiyansa to say no to drugs. Magtulungan tayo, please, let’s save our children. Let’s save everyone’s future,” he stated.

He also said that the BIDA program will work “within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development.”

Abalos also issued a stern warning to drug dealers and their ilk. “Magmula ngayon, sa mga nagtutulak, nandito ang kapulisan, mga general, at PDEA, gagawin namin ito: ipapakulong namin kayo. Pupunuin natin ang kulungan ng mga nagtutulak na ‘yan. Aayusin natin at lilinisin natin ang sistema. ‘Yung tiwala ng mamamayan sa institution ay lalo nating paiigtingin. Trust in the institution. That’s very very important,” he said.

Since President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. took over the presidency in July 2022, the DILG said that a total of 22,646 drug personalities have been arrested in 18,505 anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the PNP nationwide.

Those operations also led in the confiscation of some P9.7 billion worth of shabu and other illegal drugs.

AZURIN SAYS 26K BARANGAYS NOW ‘DRUG-FREE’

Gen. Azurin said that their ‘whole-of-nation approach’ to address the drug problem the country has already resulted in the declaration of 26,224 ‘drug-free barangays.’

The number comprises 74.23 percent of the 35,356 barangays they have targeted for clearing amid their declaration as ‘drug-affected’ in the past.

The top cop said that of all 42,046 barangays in the country, 35,356 had been previously declared as drug affected of which 26,244 or 74.23 percent have already been declared as ‘drug- cleared’ from July 2016 to November 2022.

Gen. Azurin lauded the collective efforts of government agencies especially those who work devotedly and diligently for this notable achievement. The ‘drug-clearing drive’ is being spearheaded by the PDEA .

The PNP chief said that from July 1, 2022 to November 1, 2022, 403 more barangays were declared drug cleared by Regional Oversight Committees.

Of the 35,356 drug-affected barangays, 17,079 are classified as slightly affected, 17,860 are moderately affected, while 417 are seriously affected.

Cagayan Valley region has the highest recorded ‘drug cleared’ barangay with 94.41 percent, followed by Cordillera region at 94.36 percent, Mimaropa at 93.95 percent, Eastern Visayas at 93.09 percent, and Soccsksargen region at 88.25 percent.

A barangay is classified as “affected” if there is presence of a Person Who Used Drugs (PWUDs); moderately affected if there’s a presence of drug pushers and Person Who Used Drugs (PWUDs); and seriously affected if there is a reported existence of any of the following: clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse, marijuana plantation, and drug den/”tiangge”, drug trafficking or smuggling activities, and drug personalities such as users, pushers, financiers, protectors, cultivators, and manufacturers.

“The PNP in coordination and partnership with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) along with Local Government Units (LGUs), other government agencies and stakeholders in the community remains committed to clear the remaining 9,112 or 25.77 percent of the barangays in the coming years,” Gen. Azurin said.

“Rest assured that the entire police force is always ready to extend assistance during the implementation of intervention and rehabilitation programs for drug users in order to help them to become productive citizens again when they are re-integrated to the community,” the PNP chief added.