An estimated crowd of 25,000 participants came out to take part and show support to the Department’s campaign against illegal drugs in the Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Challenge 2023 in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday morning, July 29.
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Atty. Benjamin Abalos, Jr. led the 4-kilometer run together with DILG Undersecretary for Operation Atty. Lord Villanueva, host Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and other government officials.
The activity kicked off with a program at the Hoops Dome attended by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Congresswoman Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” Chan, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Chan, Tudela Mayor Greman Solante, San Francisco Camotes Mayor Aldredo Arquillano, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, Siquijor Mayor Wilfredo Capundag Jr., and other government officials.
Also present are DILG Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs Rolando Puno and BLGS Director Debie Torres, DILG-7 Director Leocadio Trovela together with the provincial and city directors, PRO-7 Director PBGen Anthony Abellada Aberin, PDEA-7 Director Jigger Montallana, BJMP-7 Director JCSupt Neil R Avisado, NCMF-7 Director Onasis Balt, and NAPOLCOM-7 Director Atty. Risty Sibay.
BIDA Ambassador Mary Joy Tabal, an Olympian and SEA Games gold medalist, ran the 4K together with Sec. Abalos and other officials.
The other Ambassadors are Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry Ammann, Miss Mandaue 2023 Victoria Leslie Ingram and Miss Lapu-Lapu 202 Ms. Kishes Co.
The Top 3 in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 2K and 4K categories received cash prizes courtesy of the host. The winning runners were surprised as DILG gave five Tablets to the top runners.
Usec Villanueva, Asec Puno, Dir. Torres, Dir. Trovela, DILG Cebu Province Director Atty. Ian Kenneth Lucero, DILG Lapu-Lapu City Director Jonah Pino and and Atty. Risty Sibay of NAPOLCOM.
Participants also availed the free services given in the Serbisyo Caravan that includes medical services from PNP, legal aid services from DILG, IBP and YLAC Lawyers, basic firefighting, free haircut and basic first aid from BFP-7, display of livelihood products from PDL from BJMP-7, and license to own firearm permit of PNP RCSU-7.
The activity capped off with the awarding of ADAC Performance Audit.
