TWENTY-FOUR former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, who are now known as “Friends Rescued (FR),” are scheduled to undergo 15-day driving skills training national certificate 2 (NC-II) at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) provincial training center in Pagadian City.
The Training Induction Program of the 24 FRs was held Monday, November 8, at Camp Major David Sabido, which houses the 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) headquarters in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.
The skills training was under the Training for Work Scholarship Program of Tesda.
The FRs were also part of the Project Good Life, a 12-month Pneuma-Psyche-Soma Holistic Wellbeing and Mental Health Psychoeducation that is designed to provide a school-like environment for FRs that focuses on developing a higher level of emotional and spiritual intelligence.
Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, said each FRs who will undergo the skills training is entitled to a P500 allowance, which they will use to buy hygiene kits to be used for the entire training duration.
Each of the FRs also has P500 as load allocation, accident insurance from the Government Service Insurance System, and P160 daily allowance throughout the training period.
Herrera said the training was held in partnership with Project Good Life and his command. (SunStar Zamboanga)