November 15, 2023

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday received 300 tablets amounting to over P2.9 -M donated by Cherry Mobile Philippines for select community-based Drug Rehabilitation Centers.

The donation was part of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that the Department and the mobile firm signed last August to strengthen their partnership for the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program.

BIDA is the DILG’s intensified and holistic campaign against illegal drugs.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos expressed gratitude to Cherry Mobile for its support to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, particularly in aiding the treatment and recovery of persons who use drugs (PWUDs).

Aside from the provision of tablets to drug rehabilitation centers, Cherry Mobile also pledged to provide scholarships for qualified out-of-school youth, as stipulated in the MOA with the DILG.

“We are beyond grateful to Cherry Mobile Philippines for their generosity. Thank you for answering the call for a united front against the drug menace. Thank you for believing in the spirit of BIDA and for standing with us in this fight,” Abalos said.

Cherry Mobile was one of the private companies that signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to implement the BIDA Program in their respective offices.

Under the MOU, Cherry Mobile will implement a drug-free workplace pursuant to existing laws, rules, and issuances through the conduct of random drug testing and dissemination of information about the BIDA Program in their various platforms.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Communication and External Affairs Rolando Puno, Bureau of Local Government Supervision Director Debie Torres, and Head Executive Assistant Kevin Carpeso accepted the tablet units on behalf of the Department from Cherry Mobile Philippines Public Relations Senior Manager Agnes Conopio.

 

Original Article at: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/P29-M-new-tablets-seen-to-enhance-DILGs-anti-drugs-campaign/NC-2023-1236