Abalos to lead  Lapu-Lapu City  BIDA Run

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Run 2023 and Caravan shifts to Lapu-Lapu City today, July 29, 2023, with no less than Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr. expected to lead the event.

Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan expressed gratitude to Abalos for selecting Lapu-Lapu City as the venue for the BIDA Run, which is finally pushing through after several postponements.

This BIDA activity is more than just a running event, as it is a national anti-illegal drug advocacy campaign that involves local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), and other important sectors of society.

The campaign's emphasis is on drug demand reduction and drug rehabilitation.

Today's BIDA Run outing is in collaboration with the Lapu-Lapu's City Office for the Substance Abuse Prevention, it being the City's focal office for the BIDA program.

An estimated 27,000 to 30,000 participants are expected to join the run.  Besides the fun run, other activities include zumba and a caravan.

Event participants will come from the different barangays in the city, City Hall offices, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Lapu-Lapu City Fire District, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Air Force, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Traffic Management System, and Local Youth Development Office.

“This is a very big activity.This is a very big movement of people to show nga ang Central Visayas does not want illegal drugs,” said Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, Police Regional Office-7 spokesperson, in a press conference yesterday.

The BIDA Fun Run and other sports activities are considered crucial in the government's efforts to foster a stronger community and encourage the youth sector to engage in productive endeavors as responsible members of society, diverting them from illegal drug activities. — Kristin De Dios, CNU Intern/RHM (CEBU NEWS)