ESTABLISHING RESILIENCY: Friends Rescued Get Vaccinated vs. COVID

The Project Good Life students—called Friends Rescued (FRs)—of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) were vaccinated against COVID-19 with the help of Local Government Units (LGUs).

Of the 42 Project Good Life students, thirty (30) were vaccinated using the single-dose J&J Janssen vaccine while the other twelve (12), having received their first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, are now scheduled for their second dose. According to World Health Organization (WHO), “equitable access to safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19we pandemic.”

In a statement, 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said that having the FRs vaccinated against COVID-19 is a step in achieving resiliency.

“Part of our moral obligation to look after their wellbeing is also establishing their resiliency against the pandemic,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.

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.