CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan launched on Sunday the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Bawal na Gamot ay Iwasan, Magandang Kalusugan, Ehersisyo ay Responsibilidad Ko (BIKERS) anti-illegal drug campaign program of the national government administration.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. led Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernado, Vice Gv. Aex Castro and other national and Bulacan officials and 2,775 bikers who participated in the event.
Abalos told the 2,775 bikers and more than 500 zumba participants at Bulacan Sports Complex in this city during the 5:00 a.m. kick-off of the 21 kilometre bike race that fighting illegal drugs is only attained by addressing its roots.
The roots of illegal drugs thrives and proliferates in the country, he said, because people demand it, they are hooked and they use and abuse illegal drugs.
Drug users who are listed in the Barangay Anti-Illegal Drug Council (BADAC) must undergo sports activities like running, zumba and biking. With these activities, they can test their body, the phasing of their heart if they can do the sports or the exercise, if not, they will know that the cause is their abuse of the illegal drugs and these would lead them to stop.
Abalos encouraged everyone to help the country’s law enforcement—the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in curbing the use of illegal drugs by getting into the root of the problem.
“Tayo ay tumulong sa pulis, sa PDEA, at sa NBI. Habang hinuhuli nila ang mga sangkot, bago pa ito mapalitan ng iba, tayo ay magtuon na agad sa problema at alamin ang pinagmumulan. Ugatin natin ang cause ng droga, katulad ng puno, nasa ugat ang buhay, kahit putulin mo ang sanga, posible pa rin itong magkaroon ng bagong sanga hanggat nandiyan ang ugat. Ang mga nasa listahan sa BADAC na users, kailangan sila ma-engage sa sports activities, pag tumakbo ka, kakapain mo ang pacing ng katawan mo, ng puso mo. Ang kalabog ng puso mo, malalaman mo kung makakaaya mo, kapag hindi nila kaya, malalaman nila, that’s the time na hihinto sila,” he said.
“We will do it the Filipino way. This is a fight for our children,” he added.
According to the data, the secretary said, many foreign countries, even far more advanced and developed ones, which similarly have the same severe illegal drug problem with us have already given up their fight, but, here in our country, the battle continues, he said.
According to the secretary, 60-70% of those incarcerated today are involved in illegal drug cases and 30% of those who have already served their sentences and term returned to prison because they again indulge themselves into illegal drugs.
Fernando said the province supports Abalos program wherein Kapitolyo For Life healthy body promotion program teams up with the BIDA BIKERS campaign.
Through the said programs, the provincial government encourages everyone particularly the youth to join them in the fight against illegal drugs.
DILG Undersecretary Atty. Margarita Gutierrez, actively participated in the launch as she joined the women’s groups in the zumba dance.
Also present in the program were DILG Undersecretary Atty. Odilon Pasaraba, Vice Governor Alex Castro, Bulacan Congressmen Salvador Pleyto and Danilo Domingo, City of Malolos Christian Natividad, Police Regional Office 3 Director BGen. Jose Hidalgo, Jr., Bulacan Police Provincial Office Director Col. Relly Arnedo, Bulacan BFP Provincial Fire Marshal Supt. Janeth Jusayan, Bulacan Provincial Administrator Antonette V. Constantino and other department heads of the Bulacan provincial government who also joined the bike race
