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Written by: Carleen D. Salas

As part of PNVSCA’s advocacy to mainstream volunteerism as a development strategy, Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe continues to visit and consult with local government units (LGUs) and higher education institutions (HEIs) in the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor on 5-9 September 2022.

Consultation meetings were conducted in Cebu City Jail-Male Dormitory with the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Regional Office 7 and Cebu Technological University on September 5; City Government of Mandaue and City Government of Cebu on September 6; Municipal Government of Santander in Cebu, Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and City Government of Dumaguete on September 7; and Municipal Government of Sibulan, Siquijor State College, Municipal Government of Siquijor and Negros Oriental State University on September 9.

5 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with the Cebu City Jail – Male Dormitory in Cebu City headed by Warden JSupt. Mets Milton T. Placencia of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office 7. Present in the meeting were fellow IVSO Partners from Australian Volunteers Program (AVP) and Frances Volontaires (FV).

The consultation meetings helped identify opportunities for collaboration and initiate discussions for convergence to link various volunteer efforts and local resources. To provide the target partners with a general overview of the National Volunteer Service Program, Executive Director Gawe discussed the role of the Agency, basic volunteerism concepts, policy framework, as well as the recommended actions on how to integrate volunteerism as a development strategy in the local plans and policies of the respective offices.

6 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with PESO Manager (Volunteerism Focal Person/VFP) Musoline V. Suliva along with IVSO partners from AVP and Global Initiative for Exchange and Development, Inc. (GIED) at the Mandaue Sports Complex, Mandaue City, Cebu
6 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City Government
7 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with Mayor Marites B. Buscato and VFP Gemma Cortes of LGU Santander, Cebu along with PNVSCA: Executive Director Donald James Gawe, Fely M. Baday, Jhan G. Gamba and Carleen D. Salas
7 September 2022 – Governor Pryde Henry Teves of the Province of Negros Oriental discussing the province’s volunteer involvement with Executive Director Gawe
7 September 2022 – Administrator Lilani L. Ramon of the City Government of Dumaguete
discusses their volunteering initiatives
9 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with the Administrator Harold Roy F. Calingacion of the Municipal Government of Sibulan, Negros Oriental and PNVSCA OIC-PATSD Fely M. Baday and VSO Carleen D. Salas
9 September 2022 – Consultation meeting between MPDC Gilbert J. Briones of the
Municipality of Siquijor and PNVSCA Executive Director Gawe

PNVSCA recommended the following for the LGUs to consider in strengthening volunteerism in their locality: (1) designate a Volunteerism Focal Person (VFP); (2) provide platform or opportunities for volunteering of current employees and the private sector; (3) integrate volunteerism in the local development plan; (4) formulate volunteerism policies; (5) recognize volunteers/volunteer organizations; and (6) engage volunteers in the implementation of their respective programs, activities and projects (PAPs).

During the discussions, PNVSCA highlighted the issues and misconceptions surrounding volunteerism, as well as the need for financial support to implement a volunteering program, emphasizing the significance of incorporating volunteerism into the Executive and Legislative Agenda of LGUs. In addition, PNVSCA encouraged LGUs and SUCs to collaborate and harmonize their volunteering efforts, and potentially serve as a Volunteerism Local Learning Hub in their respective localities.

5 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with Vice President for Production, Extension and Resource Generation Edgar U. Tibay and Ms. Lynette Camello from Cebu Technological University (CTU) along with fellow IVSO partners from AVP and GIED

PNVSCA’s recommendations for HEIs are: (1) provide platform or opportunities for volunteering of current employees (faculty and non-faculty), alumni and the private sector, and students; (2) integrate volunteerism in the curriculum; (3) promote the conduct of volunteerism-related researches; (4) recognize volunteers/volunteer organizations; and (5) engage volunteers in the implementation of PAPs.

9 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with Siquijor State College President Dr. Steven Sumaylo
9 September 2022 – Consultation meeting with Dr. Rose Marie T. Pinili, Negros Oriental State University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director, Expanded Tertiary Ed., Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP)

Executive Director Gawe was accompanied in the visits by OIC-PATSD Fely M. Baday, Information System Analyst II Jhan G. Gamba and Volunteer Service Officer Carleen D. Salas.

The author is currently the Volunteer Service Officer I 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.