MANILA, PHILIPPINES, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 -- In its latest act of support towards a national effort against the the COVID-19 pandemic, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has now assisted the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in their recently launched campaign, ‘BIDA Ang May Disiplina.’ This latest campaign between the DOH and the DILG is the product of a partnership between the two executive departments combining the DOH’s BIDA Campaign and the DILG’s Disiplina Muna campaign. 

BIDA, an acronym for “Bawal ang walang Mask, I-sanitize or iwas-hawak sa mga bagay, Dumistansya ng isang metro, Alamin ang totoong impormasyon” was launched by the DOH on July 8, 2020, as part of a national campaign to increase awareness and battle the rising amount of coronavirus case in the country. 

Meanwhile, the Disiplina Muna campaign is an initiative of the DILG aiming to establish a culture of discipline among Filipinos as a way to foster active participation and good governance. It combines efforts of the national and local governments alongside the private sector to increase consciousness in maintaining peace and order. It first launched on November 6, 2019, in Manila under local Chief Executive Ambassador and Manila Mayor, Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso.

On September 1st, 2020, the DILG and the DOH established a joint partnership that refocused the efforts of the Disiplina Muna campaign alongside BIDA to combat the coronavirus pandemic and increase national awareness about the best practices and healthy behaviour that could aid the fight against the virus. This includes raising awareness about minimum health standards such as the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields, practicing physical distancing, and frequently washing one’s hands.

The joint campaign between the DILG and the DOH aims to establish such forms of healthy behavior as part of the habit and lifestyle of Filipinos across the country. With an increased awareness and consequent increased discipline within the community, the country will be better able to combat the further spread of the coronavirus, avoid further shutdowns, and maintain a more open economy overall.

In an effort to support the BIDA Ang May Disiplina campaign, FDCP has coordinated with the DILG Public Affairs and Communications team to broaden the campaign’s reach. As the national agency for supporting the film industry, FDCP coordinated with DILG to assist in the campaign’s ambassadors. WIth the support of FDCP, the Bida Ang May Disiplina Campaign officially launched on September 16, 2020 with renowned actress Regine Tolentino as a campaign ambassador. 

In the official press release launched by the joint partnership, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, said that the participation of the private sector and local celebrities in the campaign will significantly boost its cause and encourage more citizens to have individual self-discipline. “Public-private cooperation is indeed an ideal solution to our present situation to defeat COVID-19 as it augments both local and national government's efforts and resources,” the Health Chief said.

With the support of FDCP, the agency aims to help strengthen the campaign’s messaging in its effort to increase awareness and raise national discipline to best combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.