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The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) conducted a series of courtesy, advocacy, and consultation meetings with Regional Line Agencies, Local Government Units, and partners in volunteerism in SOCCSKSARGEN/ Central Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on January 24 to 28, 2023. 

As part of the Agency’s aspiration to make volunteerism a way of life for every Filipino and across sectors, PNVSCA joined the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Philippines, USAID, and partners in the launch of Volunteering Program Development and Management (VPDM) in Cotabato City on 25 January 2023. The VPDM program aims to link the various sectors that work for a better community and motivate more people to volunteer to achieve sustainable development through partnerships. PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe in his message emphasized the importance of the deliberate mainstreaming of volunteerism in local development plans, giving people the opportunity to volunteer and be part of the solution towards attaining lasting peace and sustained development.

ED Donald James D. Gawe highlights the importance of creating partnerships in the promotion, advocacy and mainstreaming of volunteerism towards socioeconomic development.

During the launch, PNVSCA interacted with the representatives from the City Government of Cotabato, the Ministry of Labor and Employment-BARMM, Bangsamoro Youth Commission, Islamic Relief Philippines – Cotabato, the Philippine Red Cross – Cotabato City Chapter, and UNICEF for possible collaboration and were able to learn best practices on volunteerism together with other participants. The said organizations pledged their support to volunteerism and the VPDM.

PNVSCA joins VSO Philippines and USAID in the VPDM (Volunteering Program Development and Management) Launching Ceremony at Em Manor Hotel on 25 January 2023 in Cotabato City. The program aims to connect the different sectors of the community towards a more sustainable society in the aspect of volunteerism through partnerships. Among the other organizations who are present are the City Government of Cotabato, MOLE-BARMM, Bangsamoro Youth Commission, Islamic Relief Philippines – Cotabato, Philippine Red Cross – Cotabato City Chapter. Representatives from UNICEF and ALS also graced the event.

Recognizing the invaluable contributions of volunteers to sustainable human development and how it cuts across sectors, ED Gawe and PNVSCA staff arranged courtesy and consultation visits with the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 12 in Cotabato City, the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, Notre Dame University, City Government of Cotabato and the Bangsamoro Youth Commission in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and talk through collaborative plans on strengthening the practice of volunteerism in the region through capacity development training and recognition programs.

With PAF Tactical Operations Group 12 Commander Col Marlon T. Hardillo (MNSA). ED Gawe and Col Hardillo explored possible opportunities in strengthening volunteerism among reservists toward supporting the PAF Civil-Military Operations Group.
ED Donald James D. Gawe and Ms. Camelia de Vera – Dacanay, Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority’s Chief of the Macro-economic Planning Division, talk through plans on strengthening the practice and recognition of volunteerism through mainstreaming in local development plans.
Acknowledging the potential of the youth as effective partners in volunteerism, ED Donald James D. Gawe touched base with Settie Ivy Ampatuan, Youth Development Officer, and Rahib Musa, Public Relations Officer of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) to conceive partnership opportunities for youth empowerment and participation in BYCs programs and of the Bangsamoro Government. Around 500 youth organizations in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and outside areas have received accreditation from BYC, demonstrating the youth’s zeal to bring about positive change in their communities.
Courtesy call/meeting with LGU Cotabato City Planning and Development Officer Maria Adela Fiesta-Adella and Planning Officer Oscar B. Rendon.

Given the government’s duty to foster an environment that encourages volunteerism to flourish and to further identify and assess collaboration opportunities on the promotion of volunteerism as a development strategy,       ED Gawe engaged local government planners and local chief executives of Midsayap, Sultan Kudarat, Lake Sebu, General Santos City, and Sarangani in probing different initiatives on the purposive engagement of volunteers in local development plans such as the drawing of mechanisms enticing professionals, retirees, and the youth to actively participate in the planning and implementation of government programs and projects towards ensuring food security, responsible tourism, and biodiversity in their respective localities.  He also emphasized the necessity for a sound volunteer management process to develop and implement a successful and efficient volunteer program. To help volunteer managers manage volunteers the right way, PNVSCA with the assistance of DevConcepts PH, developed in 2021 the Volunteer Management Systems (VMS) Toolkit.  The toolkit which can be accessed via the agency’s website is intended for organizations that implement volunteer programs and manage volunteers, regardless of the type or duration of their activity.

ED Donald James D. Gawe with Midsayap, Cotabato Municipal Councilor Ian B. Ostique and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Department Head John Karlo D. Ballentes. ED Gawe and Mr. Ballentes explored ways and strategies on the deliberate integration of volunteerism in the Municipality’s development plan. Hon. Ostique for his part, pledged to sponsor an ordinance adopting volunteerism as a tool towards socio-economic development.
Meeting with the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat headed by their OIC, Provincial Administrator, Jimmy C. Andang, Executive Secretary Rodele John Redondo and heads of different departments discussed how to explore ways and strategies on how to integrate/ institutionalized volunteerism in the provincial development plan.
ED Donald James D. Gawe with Emmanuel B. Jumilla, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator and Eugene I. Tumilap, Chief of Development Research, Planning and Programming Division, of the South Cotabato Provincial Government probing different initiatives on the purposive engagement of volunteers in local development plans towards ensuring food security, responsible tourism, and biodiversity in the Province.
With Zerimie O. Pilapil and Lina S. Ontong from the Administrative Office and Municipal Planning and Development Offices of the Municipality of Lake Sebu. ED Donald James D. Gawe gave a brief overview of PNVSCA’s mandate in the advocacy and promotion of volunteerism as a cross-cutting measure for attaining local development. Lake Sebu is a 1st class municipality in the province of South Cotabato with an economy based on aquaculture, agriculture, and ecotourism.
With Shandee Theresa O. Llido-Pestaño, City Administrator of General Santos City. ED Donald James D. Gawe and Ms. Llido-Pestaño exchanged views on how the government through the LGU can rekindle the interest of the people to volunteer and participate in the effective implementation of the government’s programs and projects.
With Atty. Stephany A. Velasco-Datig, Chief of Staff- Provincial Government of Sarangani, Engr. Alain Alcala, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, and officers from the Provincial Government of Sarangani. ED Donald James D. Gawe advocates the importance of volunteerism as a strategy for sustained peace and development and how the government can provide an enabling mechanism for people to effectively volunteer.

PNVSCA also had consultation meetings with Regional Line Agencies in Region XII such as the National Economic and Development Authority, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Higher Education, and the Philippine Statistics Authority, and conveyed the agency’s appreciation for their active role in the promotion and recognition of volunteerism as a tool for socioeconomic development and as lead agencies in the conduct of the Search for Outstanding Volunteers.

PNVSCA visited and thanked the officers and staff of CSC Region XII headed by Director Resurreccion P. Pueyo for their continued support as a member of the National Volunteer Month – Steering Committee.
PNVSCA visited CHED Region XII and met with Education Supervisor II Ms. Maria Theresa Magolot and relayed the agency’s appreciation for their strong support in the integration of volunteerism in the higher education curriculum through the NSTP.
PNVSCA conveyed its appreciation to the Philippine Statistics Authority – Region XII represented by Ms. Ma. Eileen A. Berdeprado, the Chief Statistical Specialist of Statistical Operations and Coordination Division for their support in the generation of volunteering statistics and administrative data on volunteerism.
Courtesy visit at NEDA Region XII where officials and staff agreed database sharing for easier coordination with development partners and stakeholders in the region. NEDA XII chairs the Regional Search Committee of the Search for Outstanding Volunteers.

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