The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday signed an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that would strengthen the country’s community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR).

The agreement aims to boost the DILG’s “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) program by providing tools and materials for social behavior change communication (SBCC) and CBDR.

The DILG will receive various CBDR materials and learning modules from USAID RenewHealth, which will then be distributed to local governments.

The USAID would also provide capacity building and information management platforms, and evidence-based policies and guidelines for CBDR.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said specific activities under the partnership also include dissemination of research and sharing of best practices to substance use prevention and reintegration; and capacity-building for CBDR program managers and service providers of local government units.

“As we continue to roll out the BIDA program in various sectors nationwide, I am very pleased to have the support of international agencies such as USAID. We thank USAID for sharing our vision and helping in our efforts to rehabilitate persons who use drugs and combating illegal drugs in the communities,” he said during the signing of the agreement at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City.

The DILG will lead the dissemination and co-branding of USAID’s SBCC and CBDR materials as part of the BIDA program and the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs websites, including the staging of advocacy events and CBDR capacity-building activities with LGUs and other stakeholders.

USAID’s RenewHealth project began in 2019 to promote social integration and increase the accessibility of drug treatment and rehabilitation within the community.

The BIDA program, the government’s holistic drug campaign, is focused on intensifying initiatives to reduce the demand and supply of illegal drugs through a multi-sectoral approach in conjunction with the law enforcement efforts of the authorities. (PNA)