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Written by: Alyssa Villa

Photo taken during the consultation meeting with the City Government of Tarlac on April 20, 2022.

As a step in mainstreaming volunteerism and increase awareness and appreciation on its importance as a development strategy, PNVSCA continuously intensifies its efforts by conducting a series of consultation meetings with different stakeholders.

On April 20-22, the PNVSCA team headed by its Executive Director, Donald James D. Gawe, met with the key officials of the local governments of Tarlac Province, Tarlac City, and Municipality of Camiling, as well as with Tarlac State University (TSU) and Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU).

Consultation meeting with the Provincial Government of Tarlac – PCEDO on April 20 & PDRRMO on April 21, 2022.

The consultations with the Local Government Units (LGUs) served as an avenue to promote and encourage volunteering in government programs and projects. On the other hand, the discussions with the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) opened vast possibilities to integrate volunteerism as part of the curriculum to raise the consciousness of the youth and develop the culture of volunteerism among the citizenry.

The PNVSCA team presented their recommendations on how the LGUs can institutionalize volunteerism as a development strategy as follows: 1) provide platform or opportunities for volunteering, both for its employees and the private sector, such as business and civil society organizations; 2) integrate volunteerism in the Local Development Plan; 3) formulate volunteerism policies; 4) recognize volunteers/volunteer organizations through an Awards Program such as the Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV); and 5) engage volunteers in the implementation of their programs, projects and activities.

At the consultation meeting with the Municipality of Camiling on April 21, 2022.

For the SUCs, the following were recommended: 1) provide a platform or opportunities for volunteering for its faculty and non-faculty employees, alumni, students (beyond NSTP), and the private sector (business and civil society organizations); 2) promote the conduct of volunteerism-related researches; 3) recognize volunteers/volunteer organizations; and 4) engage volunteers in the implementation of PAPs.

Photo taken during the meeting consultation with Tarlac State University on April 20, 2022.

PNVSCA also presented during the consultation meetings the basic concepts of volunteerism; its core characteristics; types and benefits of, and reasons for volunteering; and some legislations and policy statements on volunteering.

Photo taken during the meeting consultation with Tarlac Agricultural University on April 22, 2022.

The three LGUs and two state universities agreed to enter into an MOU with the Agency for a technical cooperation/assistance for the institutionalization of volunteerism as a development strategy.

Aside from ED Gawe, the PNVSCA is composed of Ms. Maribel Larracochea, Sr. VSO of the PATSD, and Ms. Alyssa Villa, VSO II of the PCMED.

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The authors are currently the VSO II of the Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PCMED), 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.