DOH-ILOCOS LAUNCHES ‘BEAT THE BISYO RACE’

THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region and the local government of Infanta in Pangasinan recently launched a campaign to educate students and increase awareness on the ill effects of smoking, alcohol drinking and illicit drug use.

Dubbed “Beat the Bisyo Race,” five schools from the municipality of Infanta joined tne event.

Regional Local Health Support Division chief Jimuel S. Cardenas, who led the opening and awarding of cash prizes, encouraged students not to indulge in any unhealthy habit such as smoking, drinking and most of all the use of illegal substance.

“Bigyan ninyo ng halaga ang inyong pag-aaral dahil dito nakasalalay ang inyong kinabukasan. Iwasan ninyo ang mga kaibigan o mga taong magtutulak sa inyo upang magkaroon ng masamang bisyo. Always say no to unhealthy habits,” he stated.

Cardenas also thanked the local government of Infanta for facilitating the implementation of the event.

The “Beat the Bisyo Race” is a game where a team of students will be given a map that will take them to specific locations in the community, where they will be given questions to answer and various tasks to perform until they reach the finish line. The first team to complete the tasks wins.

A cash prize of P10,000 was given to the first prize winners from Infanta Integrated School (Blue Team); P7,500 was awarded to the second prize winner, the Cato National High School (Red Team); and P5,000 cash prize went to the students of Pangasinan State University Laboratory High School (Yellow Team).

Consolation prizes of P2,500 each were given to Bayambang National High School – Infanta (White Team) and St. John’s Institute (Green Team).

Participating students were also given lectures on the seven healthy habits, smoking and anti-illegal drugs campaign conducted by the Philippine National Police of Infanta.

Infanta Mayor Marvin M. Martinez also reminded students to avoid vices while they are young, instead concentrate on their studies, have a goal and strive to achieve it.

“Libre naman po ang mangarap at pagsikapan po natin na ito ay maabot sa pamamagitan ng pagsusumikap at pangangalaga sa sarili,” he encouraged.

The municipality of Infanta is one of the first 200 LGUs given the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award for effectively carrying out its duties and responsibilities in complementing the national government’s drive against illegal drugs in 2020.

The “Beat the Bisyo Race” is part of the strategy in implementing the Health Promotion Framework Strategy and is being implemented by the Regional Health Promotion Unit under the leadership of Cheryl D. Buhong, with the objective of making healthy behaviors the easier choice by everyone, every time, everywhere for a “Healthy Pilipinas.”

The event was conducted in coordination with the Department of Education – Region 1, provincial government of Pangasinan and provincial DOH Office of Pangasinan.