To run or not to run in a PDEA marathon

BAGUIO CITY — An announcement from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera about a scheduled marathon drew different reactions from the public.

The agency announced the "Takbong PDEA" (Pag-iwas sa Droga sa pamamagitan ng Ehersisyo at Adbokasiya) that will take place on 29 March 2026 at the famous Burnham Park in Baguio City. While the event is framed as an advocacy project to promote drug prevention through exercise, the online response has been characterized by a unique blend of humor, skepticism, and concern over financial transparency.

Some netizens reacted with sarcasm, specifically targeting the irony of a drug enforcement agency hosting a run. Multiple commenters made jokes regarding the term runner, a word often used in the illegal drug trade, while others poked fun at the agency's captioning. Some community members even quipped that the event would serve as training for the agents to be faster during actual raids.

Beyond the humor, some also questioned the registration fees, which range from P650 to P850. Residents compared these prices to other local charity runs that, according to them, are cheaper. Questions were also raised about whether a government-funded program should be charging such rates and exactly where the collected funds would be allocated.

The level of distrust was evident in several comments, with some individuals labeling the fun run a money-making activity. Despite promotion by official city channels, the public remains vocal about their desire for more clarity regarding the event's budget.

The comments were drawn from the social media page of the Baguio City Information Office.