The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that the authorities seized almost P32 billion worth of illegal narcotics under the present administration's campaign against illegal drugs during President Marcos' first 21 months in office, or from July 1, 2022, to April 21, 2024, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Citing PNP Spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo, the PCO said the figure covers operations that led to the seizure of almost 990 kilos of illegal drugs in October 2022 and the arrest of a Chinese national on April 15 this year.

According to Fajardo, the PNP has been carrying out its anti-illegal drugs campaign through a holistic approach and has intensified the demand reduction drive through the Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Iwasan (BIDA) Program by constructing more rehabilitation centers including those based in communities.

The BIDA Program is in partnership with other national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), the private sector, and faith-based and civil organizations. It focuses more on drug demand reduction and rehabilitation in communities, supported by law enforcement agencies.

In a press briefing, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said because of the BIDA program, close to 400,000 advocates participated in DILG’s various BIDA activities.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has seen an improvement in the 28,000 barangays recorded to be drug-cleared and the over 6,000 drug-free barangays.

"Our local government units implemented community-based drug rehabilitation program, with 1,534 LGUs recorded to have their own community-based drug rehab," Abalos said.

"So this community-based drug rehab programs have already produced 182,846 graduates from the program and eight of them to be reintegrated back to their communities," he added.

Abalos also said that various intervention and fitness programs were provided to over 20,000 current enrollees in DILG’s community-based drug rehabilitation campaign.

Meanwhile, the DILG is incentivizing communities to fight drug abuse, and 14 LGUs were already given special awards for their community-based rehabilitation.

Similarly, 246 local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) were awarded for their exemplary performance in their mandate and roles in communities.