Iloilo City seeks to raise awareness against illegal drugs with around 11,400 stakeholders joining the Buhay Ingatan Druga’y Ayawan (BIDA) RISE and Run advocacy run covering the over five-kilometer stretch of the city road on April 20.

“This program is the advocacy of the LGU (local government unit) plus the barangays in the campaign against drugs. BIDA is a flagship program of the DILG,” said Oscar Lim Jr., Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in an interview on Wednesday.

The program is focused on the pillars of prevention, law enforcement, prosecution, correction, rehabilitation, wellness, and reintegration, he said.

In addition to raising awareness against illegal drugs, the BIDA run also promotes a healthy lifestyle, encourages, especially the youth, to become physically fit, and inspires the community to spend their time doing more productive endeavors rather than resort to illegal drugs.

The run will start from the Iloilo City Hall to Fort San Pedro, Parola, Muelle Loney, Grand Xing Hotel, Iznart Street, J.M. Basa Street, and back to Iloilo City Hall.

Expected participants will come from the 180 barangays of the city, tanods, students, athletes, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, government employees, private citizens, running clubs, and even persons who use drugs, who are yet to complete their rehabilitation.

“Through this activity, the city and barangays would like to show that drugs are not welcome in Iloilo City,” he said. (PNA)