DILG SEC. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr , graced the formal launching of the "Bantala sang Dose" on June 25, 2023 at the departure area of Gen. Santos City International Airport. He was joined by DILG XII RD Josephine Cabrido- Leysa, CESO III, PNPRO XII RD PBGEN Jimili Macaraeg, FCSUPT Alven Valdez, Napolcom XII RD Rodel M. Calo, represented by Atty. Michelle Ann P. Viejo and Gensan City Jail Warden JSUPT Reuben D. Olivo, representinng RD JCSUPT Leo P. Baldon.

Earlier, on June 24, Saturday, Sec. Abalos, along with Sargen BIDA Ambassador former senator Manny Pacquiao, LCEs of Sarangani and other government agency officials, led the Regional BIDA Campaign Rollout in Sarangani Province which was attended by 8,000 people.

Sec. Abalos lauded the joint project between DILG Rehiyon Dose and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) - Gen. Santos City which has been made operational at the height of the BIDA Campaign in the region.

Meanwhile, in her brief message, DILG XII RD Josephine Cabrido- Leysa,CESO III, explained that "the BIDA Campaign is a nationwide advocacy program of the DILG which aims to reduce drug demand through empowering communities by engaging them in anti- illegal drug activities, raising public awareness on the ill-effects of drug proliferation and destigmatize drug addiction in the community."

The Bantala sang Dose aims "to strengthen information dissemination for the anti- illegal drug advocacy."

The Bantala is a platform for IEC which features a public address system using a wide LED TV screen at the departure area which will show a continuous loop of AVPs highlighting DILG's BIDA Campaign, Drug- Free Workplace Seal Certification Program, GAD Seal and many other noteworthy and replicable practices of DILG XII and its partner agencies and other Muti-Sectoral Advisory Council (MSAC) XII partners.

The Local Governance Regional Resource Center (LGRRC) XII, as a background, was established to promote a culture of learning, inter-local cooperation and partnership among stakeholders in local governance. LGRRC XII had been fully supportive of the Bantala sang Dose since its inception, with the all-out support of MSAC XII.

RD Leysa also bared that the LGRRC XII intends to install another TV set at the arrival area of the airport in the near future. " We have chosen Gensan International Airport because, as a Gateway to Region XII, we have seen higher post pandemic foot traffic, with the normalization of travel," RD Leysa explained.

With the construction, expansion and repair almost done, Gensan International Airport can now accommodate 2 million passengers annually, from a low of 800,000 previously.

Sec. Abalos, in his message, congratulated DILG Rehiyon Dose RD Josephine Cabrido, and CAAP Gensan headed by Manager Joel Gavina for the joint effort to spread right information, knowledge and truth and looks forward to the replication of the idea to the other airports.