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Written by: Jeffrey N. Almazan and Alyssa Marie A. Villa

The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) and Bicol University (BU) entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 11, 2024, to enhance and fortify the university’s national volunteer service and community extension program. The signing ceremony, led by PNVSCA’s Executive Director, Donald James D. Gawe, and BU’s President, Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres III, solidifies both PNVSCA and BU’s commitment to this collaboration.

In this partnership, PNVSCA will closely work with BU in mainstreaming volunteerism in the academe through its National Service Training Program (NSTP) and other possible avenues like student clubs and other subjects where volunteerism can be incorporated to further cultivate the spirit of volunteerism among the students. Moreover, the partnership will also explore on areas specifically in research, employee volunteering, and incorporating volunteer management capacity building to sustain their current volunteering engagements in their extension office and other departments.

The partnership with Bicol University, being the first SUC partner of PNVSCA in Bicolandia, also aims to guide and assist the university to become a model in engaging in voluntary activities and services to contribute to the betterment of the academic community not only in the province of Albay but also in its neighboring provinces.

President Nebres committed to draw-up an action plan to implement the provisions of the MOU as well as suggested to PNVSCA academe-based organizations that would be strategic in promoting volunteerism. He expressed optimism that BU can play the role of a learning hub on volunteerism given the region’s vast experiences that simply need to be consolidated and packaged as knowledge products. ED Gawe commended BU for its unwavering support and stressed the importance of effective strategies in utilizing volunteerism as a development strategy. President Nebres on the other hand expressed optimism that this partnership will inspire not only the youth, but also the other sectors of the university, to actively participate in volunteerism. He committed to providing all the necessary support to ensure the success of this collaboration.

From left to right: BU Legal Officer Atty. Daryl A. Redobaldo, PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe, Bicol University President Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres, and BU NSTP Director Mr. Eduardo Thaddeus M. Livica Jr. pose with the signed MOU.
PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe on his talk on the role of volunteering in nation-building.
BU President Baby Boy Benjamin D. Nebres expressed his gratitude to PNVSCA and extends his full support with this partnership.

The authors are currently the Volunteer Service Officer II, 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.