Written by: Rizalene Velacruz

The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) forged partnership with the Intramuros Administration (IA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 16 August 2023 at the Museo de Intramuros, Manila City.

The partnership aims to explore areas of cooperation between the two agencies, for the development and promotion of Intramuros as a cultural and heritage site through volunteerism. The MOU was signed by IA Administrator Atty. Joan M. Padilla and PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe and witnessed by Mr. Jeffrey P. Yap, IA Chief Historic Sites Development Officer of the Urban Planning and Community Development Division and Mr. Kenneth C. Siruelo, PNVSCA Officer-in-Charge of the Policy, Advocacy and Technical Services Division.

Atty. Padilla recognized the undeniable impact of volunteerism as an instrument of change and expressed her excitement about the partnership. She said that the partnership is a shared commitment on volunteerism towards the goal of safeguarding cultural identity and legacy. Director Gawe, on the other hand, highlighted that volunteerism is already part of the Filipino culture through bayanihan. He also expressed that the partnership is very strategic as this will promote cultural development and will serve as a platform for the public to learn more about voluntourism.

Among those present to witness the event were representatives from the Manila High School, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Mapua University, and World Wide Fund for Nature.

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The author is currently the VSO I 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.