IN CELEBRATION of its 8th anniversary, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) launched a fun run activity in partnership with MetroLifestyle Fitness Center & Spa on Sunday, July 25, 2010.
The early morning Anti-Drug Campaign fun run is only one of the various activities PDEA has prepared to drumbeat the fight against illegal drugs. PDEA's week-long anniversary celebration was from July 25 to 31, 2010.
Aside from raising awareness for the fight against illegal drugs, "Takbo Laban Sa Droga" was also a celebration of partnership with different organizations who share the same vision, at the same time, a humanitarian service to the community of Davao City.
PDEA-Davao Region Director Roybel M Sanchez's message to the participants before sending off the runners in a 5-kilometer fun run around downtown Davao from (and back to) MetroLifestyle Complex is clearly summarized in a powerful slogan "Health, not drugs."
Other officers who joined in the fun run were Deputy Regional Director for Admin. Emerson Rosales, Plans and Operation Division Chief Naravy Duquiatan, Administrative Division Chief Mary Veil Alpiz. The PDEA group of runners represents in behalf of director general Dionisio R. Santiago (ret.) and deputy regional director for Operation, Aileen Lovitos.
The participants who supported "Takbo Laban sa Droga" include fitness members and employees from MetroLifestyle, a group of police from Philippine National Police (PNP) under regional director Chief. Supt. Pedro Yu-Tango, Task Force Davao courtesy of Col. Oscar Lactao, and students from University of Mindanao's "Jr. Drug Buster" and Holy Cross of Davao College's "Students Against Drugs."
All within the same week, two-feeding programs are scheduled for the beneficiaries of PDEA Outreach Program to the less fortunate children under the care of Christ the King Our Saviour Parish on 28 July, and Rescue-A-Child foundation on 31 July 2010, as part of its community service.
"Takbo Laban Sa Droga" was a successful partnership with sponsors Davao Diamond Industrial Supplies, Flexochem Traders & Producer, Inc., Adlaon Farm, Tesoro's Printing Press and Majinbuu's and Coca Cola. Top 5 finishers were given gift certificates courtesy of Extreme Make Over Auto Supply.