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Written by: Kamille May Atienza

The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) and the Philippine Coalition on Volunteerism, Inc. (PhilCV) renewed their partnership through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a simple ceremony held on January 3, 2022 at the Volunteerism Knowledge and Resource Center, PNVSCA Office, SRA Bldg., Quezon City.

The MOU seeks to further promote volunteerism as a strategy for national and local development and enhance partnerships in securing and valuing recognitions of volunteers, volunteer managers and volunteer involving and engaging organizations in development.  Specifically, the MOU covers the two organizations’ joint efforts to: (a) promote, support, and maintain the Standards for Volunteering for Development as the foundation for capacitating, developing and strengthening the volunteer involving and engaging organizations;  (b) establish and monitor a system of measuring volunteering contributions to attain national development and the Sustainable Development Goals; (c) to develop and monitor the guide for Corporate Volunteering; (d) to lobby and promote volunteerism-related policies; (e) to institute and operate a recognition program for volunteering efforts; (f) and to facilitate knowledge sharing on volunteerism.

From left, Ms. Fely M. Baday, Mr. Donald James D. Gawe, Ms. Camille B. Buenaventura, and Mr. Paulino M. Buenconsejo.

Other possible areas of cooperation include the promotion and/or amendment of RA 9418 or the Philippine Volunteer Act of 2007 and the Philippine Volunteerism Agenda and Framework Plan (PVAFP); development of programs with the designated Volunteerism Focal Persons (VFPs) of local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs) and government-owned and controlled organizations (GOCCs); collaboration in building volunteerism statistics; co-organization of events and/or participation in programs, events and activities; and program promotion and advocacy.

The MOU Signatories are joined by Key Officials and Focal Staffs from PNVSCA and PhilCV

In his message, Executive Director Gawe thanked PhilCV for their renewed commitment to support government initiatives and emphasized that the objectives and roles of each agency in the MOU are now more focused and results driven. He also expressed PNVSCA’s goal of establishing a common framework among organizations and individuals to mainstream volunteerism, and acknowledged the importance of promoting volunteerism and showcasing good practices through recognition and awards ceremonies such as PNVSCA’s Search for Outstanding Volunteers.

Executive Director Gawe assured PhilCV that PNVSCA will implement its commitments as PNVSCA has reorganized itself to ensure an effective partnership management. He shared to the group that for the PNVSCA-PhilCV Partnership, the Policy Advocacy and Technical Services Division (PATSD) headed by Ms. Fely Baday is the lead implementing division while the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PCMED) headed by Ms. Ela Sarmago shall monitor the implementation of the MOU as it is also the division lead for partnerships.

PhilCV Executive Director Buenconsejo expressed his gratitude to PNVSCA for its collaboration with PhilCV over the past years. He also mentioned the proposal of PhilCV Chair Mr. Maximillan G. Ventura to set up a volunteer community hub in the country so that volunteers can be readily mobilized in times of need.

Following the signing ceremony, PNVSCA and PhilCV developed an action plan to serve as guidepost in their partnership agreement.

Action planning workshop with Key Officials and Focal Staff of PNVSCA and PhilCV

PhilCV is a coalition of SEC-registered volunteer involving and engaging organizations and network with a vision of a socially responsive volunteerism for a vibrant Philippine society, founded on volunteering for development through advocacy, legislative policy initiatives and platforms towards active participation of citizenry. Currently, PhilCV has 28 member organizations coming from the corporate, media, academe, nonprofit organizations and volunteer service organizations.

The author is currently the Volunteer Service Officer (VSO) II of the Policy, Advocacy and Technical Services Division (PATSD), 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.