FROM PARTNERSHIP TO CONVERGENCE WITH ACADEMIC COMMUNITY: JH Cerilles State College, 53IB ink MOA for Project Good Life

JH Cerilles State College (JHCSC) President Dr. Mary Jocelyn Battung expressed a message of support to the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) Project Good Life for FRs (Friends Rescued) during the Memorandum of Agreement Signing Program held on May 28, 2021 at 53IB Headquarters, Camp Maj. David Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

Dr. Battung and her staff were received by 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera and Good Life Academy President Dr. Moibe Olitres. A short program was conducted to provide an overview of the concept of Project Good Life.

With the theme: Threading the Path to Fulfillment and Authentic Happiness with FRs (Friends Rescued), Project Good Life for FRs is a Holistic Wellbeing and Mental Health Psychoeducation Program for FRs who surrendered to the 53IB, in accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, “We are so happy for your JHCSC’s support to our programs for the welfare of FRs. Project Good Life is an intervention program that addresses the rehabilitation needs of our Friends Rescued in Zamboanga Del Sur in terms of improvement of the quality of their life, well-being, and mental health,” 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said.

“We are honored to be part of this project and we will give our one hundred percent support to this. We are linking JHCSC’s TABANGE Extension Program to 53IB. We are looking forward to strengthening our partnership with the 53IB to serve our communities,” Dr. Battung said.

“We are so happy and thankful for all the support you have given us. We are so privileged and fortunate to receive all of these opportunities and we promise to participate and accomplish this program,” an FR beneficiary said.

The Matapat Troopers’ partnerships and collaborations with the academic community for relentlessly serving the people is part of the 53IB’s drive to pursue transformation to become a world class Army that is a source of national pride by 2028 in line with the Army Transformation Roadmap (ATR).