Written by: Carleen D. Salas

With its commitment to mainstream volunteerism as a development strategy across government and non-government organizations and offices and higher education institutions (HEIs), the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) conducted stakeholders’ engagements, consultation meetings, signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and monitoring visits of volunteer-assisted projects with various offices and HEIs across Ilocos and Cordillera regions from January 25 to 30, 2024.

Led by Executive Director (ED) Donald James D. Gawe, the PNVSCA team’s first stop was at the Provincial Government of La Union for a courtesy visit.  Governor Raphaelle “Rafy” Veronica Ortega-David assured PNVSCA of her commitment to support the volunteering initiatives in the province and tasked the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development to conduct an action planning meeting with PNVSCA. It shall be recalled that the Province was given a special citation by PNVSCA for the LGU category during the 2023 Search for Outstanding Volunteer ceremony held on December 12, 2023.

PNVSCA’s next stop was at the City Government of San Fernando where an exploratory cum consultation meeting took place with the City Government represented by its Volunteerism Focal Person and City Planning and Development Office Chief Brix Ceasar Cafuir.  A brief but meaningful courtesy visit was made possible with City Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto as he also expressed support for the integration of volunteerism as a strategy in the City’s development framework.  

PNVSCA also had the opportunity to introduce the Agency and its mandates and programs to Lorma Colleges, Inc. and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office I. Both organizations acknowledged and appreciated PNVSCA’s advocacy and saw avenues for collaboration and partnership which will be beneficial to both parties.  

As a major partner of PNVSCA in mainstreaming volunteerism in Ilocos Region, NEDA Region 1 officials and staff led by Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Irenea Ubungen gave feedback on the collaborative activities in the region particularly the conduct of the annual Search for Outstanding Volunteers and the implementation of volunteer-assisted projects.

On the same day, January 26^th, PNVSCA visited the Municipal Government of Bacnotan for an action planning session which is a follow-up activity of the capacity building training activity held in 2022 where Volunteerism Focal Persons Edmar Sumulong and Mark Florian Rimorin participated.  PNVSCA also discussed the result of the LGU assessment on volunteerism mainstreaming held in 2023 and identified areas for improvement. Atty. Marivic Estrada-Rimando, the Municipal Administrator shared the various volunteering initiatives spearheaded by municipal employees on education, environment, and governance, among others.

At Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)-Bacnotan Campus, ED Gawe’s conversation with Fisheries Research and Training Institute (FRTI) Director Dr. Andie John D. Tadeo, University Coordinator for Resource Development (Environmental Management) Prof. Celso H. Jucutan, and Director for the Institute of Environmental Studies Prof. Desiree A. Vilar resulted in an exchange of ideas and strategies centered on the university’s programs and goals, and also focused on aligning volunteer programs and initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals. Both parties hope for a stronger partnership as they draft, finalize, and implement the Volunteerism action plan.

On January 27, the PNVSCA Team proceeded to Project CURMA (Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions) in San Juan, La Union to follow up on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  Upon discussing and clarifying certain terms and conditions of the MOU, both parties reached an agreement to revise the draft MOU accordingly. PNVSCA’s visit to Project CURMA was timely as two (2) sea turtle hatchlings were about to be released into the sea.

PNVSCA had the privilege of a Sunday visit at the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual, and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) – Abra Agroforestry Training Center, where Provincial Coordinator Delfin Tesoro warmly welcomed the group. The interaction with OISCA Philippines resident representative Yukihiro Ishibashi and Mr. Tesoro was an opportunity to assess the dynamics of the stakeholders and the status of implementation of OISCA-Abra’s projects, especially the Children Forest Program.  Towards the end of the conversation, both parties agreed on practical ways forward.

On January 29^th, PNVSCA signed the Memorandum of Understanding that will create opportunities for collaboration in mainstreaming volunteerism in the curriculum with the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) at the UNP Tadena Hall, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

It was also an opportune time for PNVSCA to meet with Ilocos Sur Provincial Governor Jeremias Singson, Provincial Administrator Marlon Tagorda and Provincial Planning and Development Chief (PPDC) Estrelita Rugnao at the Provincial Capitol. Ms. Eleanor Belizar of UNP joined the team to discuss with the governor UNP’s volunteering initiatives in the province.

As part of the volunteer deployment process, the PNVSCA Team conducted monitoring visits to three (3) volunteer-assisted projects on Coastal Resource Management in Ilocos Sur which are implemented by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), Vigan City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and San Esteban Municipal Agriculture Office.  PNVSCA’s conversations with the local partner institution Project supervisors, volunteers and counterpart workers revolved around the status of the project and the volunteers’ initial placement.  PNVSCA’s standard operating procedure requires the deployed volunteers to be introduced to the LGU/organization staff, provincial and city/municipal local chief executives, Philippine National Police and the NEDA regional office within two (2) months from deployment date.

Since the signing of partnership agreement in 2022, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and PNVSCA have conducted a number of activities that strengthen the establishment of Pangasinan’s volunteer program.  As a follow-up activity, PNVSCA visited PGO Pangasinan on January 30, 2024 for an updating meeting or a rapid assessment of Pangasinan’s Volunteerism ordinance implementation.

To cap off the consultation meetings in Ilocos Region, PNVSCA initiated a partnership meeting with Pangasinan State University (PSU) in Lingayen to establish collaborative activities on volunteerism, exchange information resources, and conduct strategic planning in the near future. PSU presented its existing volunteer program which is called, “COMMUNIVERSIDAD Outreach and Volunteer Program.” Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Dr. Resultay shared that the university continues to advocate volunteerism through the said program. During the conversation, ED Gawe offered suggestions on potential initiatives that could actively engage faculty and students of the university. Both parties then reviewed the draft MOU and MOA and agreed to push forward for the memoranda signing.

The PNVSCA Team is composed of Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe, PATSD Officer-in-Charge Kenneth C. Siruelo, and Volunteer Service Officers Fely M. Baday and Carleen D. Salas

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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.