More than 11,400 participants joined the BIDA RISE and RUN organized by the Iloilo City Government and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday, April 20.
No less than DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos led the 5-kilometer run which started from City Hall at Plaza Libertad to Fort San Pedro, Parola, Muelle Loney, Grand Xing Hotel, Iznart Street, J.M. Basa Street, and back to Plaza Libertad.
“This is the city’s advocacy run against illegal drugs. We RISE against drugs, and we RUN from drugs. We anchored this on BIDA or Buhay Ingatan Druga’y Ayawan Program of the DILG – a holistic approach in countering the proliferation of illegal and dangerous drugs,” Mayor Jerry Treñas stressed.
“We want to raise awareness against illegal drugs and encourage the community to spend their time doing more productive endeavors rather than resulting in illegal drugs. We also promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage everyone, especially the youth, to become physically fit,” he added.
The undertaking was participated by 180 barangays, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), tanods, students and athletes, citizens, Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs), and MORE Power Running Club.
Government employees and personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines also joined the activity.
The event is in partnership with MORE Power, PNP, BFP, Liga ng mga Barangay, SK Federation, Pepsi, and Iloilo Society Commercial. (Iloilo City PIO)
