Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. urged parents to be role models and educate kids against illegal drugs while launching the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program in Kalibo, Aklan.
“I urge all parents to be good role models and to continuously nurture their relationship with their children so that they may guide them through life’s challenges and veer them away from illegal drugs. Ito po ang ating pinakamalaking tungkulin,” Abalos said in a statement on Monday.
What the Department of the Interior and Local Government chief advised local parents was in line with the BIDA Campaign’s theme: “pagbabago, repormasyon, at pag unlad ng kabataan” (change, reformation, and youth development).
“What is important is how you handle a problem. It is what makes you a leader. Iyan ang kailangan natin sa bata (that is what our kids should have), the confidence to say no to illegal drugs,” Abalos stressed.
He also highlighted the need to end the problem with illegal drugs, citing its effects and the recent drug busts conducted in Baguio and Taguig that yielded billions of illegal narcotics.
“We are now at a point na ang huli ng pulis ay bilyon-bilyon. Kailan lamang, sa Baguio, nakahuli sila ng 4 billion pesos. Kung umikot ito, malaking perwisyo sa anak natin, sa apo natin, sa mga susunod nating henerasyon ng Pilipino. Sisirain tayo nito.”
(We are now at a point where the police seize billions of drugs. Just recently, in Baguio, they caught P4 billion worth of shabu. If this goes around, it will significantly harm our children, our grandchildren, and future generations of Filipinos. It will destroy us.)
Aside from the BIDA Program, the agency also launched Blay Silangan or Baeay Pagbag-o it Kalibo — a project in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to help people involved with drugs in the country.