ZAMBOANGA CITY, January 24, 2022 — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 through its Zamboanga del Sur Field Office joined the 1st Commencement Exercises of the Project Good Life of the 53rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army with 41 Friends Rescued (FRs) completers.

Project Good Life for Friends Rescued (FRs) is a need-based and inclusive wellbeing psychoeducation program initiated by 53IB in partnership with various organizations and national government agencies that aims to translate the result of initial strength-based research inquiry among former rebels.

The undertaking supports Executive Order No. 70, known as the Whole of Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, to adopt a peace framework to address the root causes of the insurgency, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflict and threats.

DOLE for its part has conducted several information caravans on programs and services that are available to FRs and how these may be availed.

Gracing the event were Governor Victor Yu as the Chairperson, DA Undersecretary Evangelista as the keynote Speaker together with Dr. Moibe Olitres, President of Project Good Life and the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) from the Municipality of Lakewood, Dumingag, Lapuyan, Dumalinao, & Guipos and Heads of different National Government Agencies and stakeholders.

The activity was held at Camp Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur, on January 21, 2022.