Written By: Tricia Marie B. Ayala

As part of the agency’s continuing strategy to enhance coordination and to strengthen partnerships, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) convened the PNVSCA-Regional Volunteerism Focal Persons Link (RVFPL) through an online meeting on 18 February 2021. The main agenda of the meeting is to agree on volunteerism activities to be implemented at the sub-national level that are aligned with the PNVSCA’s 2021 Priority Thrusts. Highlighted in the meeting were the Proposed PNVSCA-RVFPL Engagements, as well as the assessment of 2020’s Search for Outstanding COVID-19 Volunteers (SOCV).

PNVSCA’s Senior Volunteer Service Officer (Sr. VSO) Ms. Maribel Larracochea presented the Agency’s Priority Thrusts for 2021 which includes: 1) Completing and adopting of the Philippine Volunteerism Agenda and Framework Plan (PVAFP); 2) Mainstreaming of Volunteerism in local and sector plans, education curriculum, public and corporate sector; 3) Establishing and Maintaining a National Volunteer Network; 4) Intensifying Advocacy and Partnerships; and 5) Processing of ISO 9001-2015 QMS Certification. From the meeting, PNVSCA was able to solicit insights and suggestions for possible collaborations and engagements for the agency’s planned projects and activities for the year.

In a breakout session, RVFPL members who were divided in two (2) groups discussed and gave inputs on their proposed regional activities that may need PNVSCA’s support, and assessment on the 2020 Search for Outstanding COVID-19 Volunteers (SOCV). The later will serve input to the preparation and improvements for this year’s Search.

In her parting message, PNVSCA’s Chief VSO and meeting Presiding Officer Ms. Ela Victoria Sarmago thanked the NEDA Regional Offices (NROs), the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BARMM-BPDA), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government-NCR (DILG-NCR) for their continued support to PNVSCA’s advocacies and activities.

The online meeting was attended by around 30 volunteerism focal person/s representing all the regions (except Region 11). Almost all the regions were represented by NEDA Regional Offices with the exception of NCR and BARMM who were represented by DILG and BPDA, respectively.

The author is currently the Volunteer Service Officer II of the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency.

Visit PNVSCA website (www.pnvsca.gov.ph) and PNVSCA Facebook (facebook.com/PNVSCA) for other stories and information on volunteering.

The author is currently the Volunteer Service Officer II of the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency.

Visit PNVSCA website (www.pnvsca.gov.ph) and PNVSCA Facebook (facebook.com/PNVSCA) for other stories and information on volunteering.