VALUING AND PREPARING THE FRIENDS RESCUED | Office of Civil Defense Concludes Training for FRs
The Office of Civil Defense – Region 9 (OCD-IX) concluded its 2-day Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM) Training Course for Friends Rescued, the Project Good Life Students of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB), on August 27, 2021.
The closing ceremony was graced by OCD-IX Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena who also expressed his gratitude to Project Good Life and lauded the conception of Whole-of-Nation Approach.
“It is great that we now use the ‘Whole-of-Nation Approach’ not just to address the insurgency problem, but to help and prepare our Friends Rescued in their future roles as proactive and responsible citizens of our country.
The situation today is very far from when I was still in active military service,” said RD Ochotorena.The two-day CBDRRM training is a process in which at-risk communities are actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities.
In her message, 53IB Mental Health Consultant and Good Life Academy President Dr. Moibe Olitres, RGC applauded the governance of OCD-IX under the genuine and emphatic leadership of RD Ochotorena for valuing the Friends Rescued of 53IB’s Project Good Life.
“The abundance of your kindness manifests. We hail the glory of God that rests in your hands as you extend it to our Friends rescued,” said Dr. Olitres.”You allowed them to rest and celebrate a birthday in a nice hotel. This is common for others, but for them, this is their first time,” she added.
Meanwhile, 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera expressed his gratitude to the OCD-IX for conducting the said training for the Friends Rescued.
“This CBDRRM Training Course will both help our FRs in their transition to mainstream society and in terms of disaster preparedness and the challenges that may lie ahead of them. For this, we are most grateful,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.
The CBDRRM Training Course was facilitated by OCD-IX Staff: HR Focal/Information Officer Capacity Building and Training Section (CBTS) Ms. Kimberly Amor, Asstistant Chief, CBTS-OCDIX; Ms. Raiyah Sindatoc, Training Specialist-CBTS-OCDIX; Mr. Jenner Pandan, and Chief CBTS-OCDIX; and Ms. Kornessa L. Paras.
Project Good Life for Friends Rescued (FRs) is an 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 of the 53rd Infantry Battalion to community extension service.
It is a need-based program for FRs to support Executive Order 70 signed by the President which institutionalizes the Whole-of-Nation approach to end local communist armed conflict in the country.
