CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 7 and its attached agency, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), continue to promote volunteerism through the Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) and the Bayanihan Media Awards (BMA).
NEDA-7 assistant regional director Evelyn Nacario-Castro said the concept of volunteerism is an innate Filipino trait and plays a vital role in nation-building.
“Ang concepto sa volunteerism dili na bago nato. Traditionally, as Filipinos, we have this concept of bayanihan. We work together in addressing needs, promoting an asset, and ensuring we are able to do good together. So, it is always an opportunity to share your 3Ts: your talent, treasure, and time without consideration of any monetary returns,” said Castro during the Kapihan sa PIA on Aug. 28.
She noted that volunteerism is a form of participatory governance.
“It’s a whole-of-nation approach. Everyone has a role to play in society—academe, private or public sectors. It is participatory governance that involves everyone,” Castro explained.
For Rhenelyn Queen Dadulo, president of the Global Initiative for Exchange and Development (GIED), an accredited non-government organization of PNVSCA, volunteerism gives a person a deeper understanding of life, especially in its different aspects.
“We call it a learning service, an experiential learning. Through experiences, you become a better person,” said Dadulo.
She shared that part of their program involves bridging volunteerism in different institutions and organizations, both locally and overseas.
“We are not only receiving foreign advocates but also sending volunteers to our partner organizations abroad,” she added.
Dadulo explained that part of their program provides assistance to various activities in local government units, where volunteers are able to engage in hands-on farming, farm visitations, statistical reporting, advocacy material preparation, social media content creation, and similar tasks.
“These volunteers can strategize and create plans where they can provide this kind of support to the LGUs,” she said.
Castro also emphasized the importance of volunteerism in understanding cultural differences and building relationships.
“It’s a fabric that will help us strengthen the communities we have right now, or even help elevate them to the next level based on our potentials and assets. It is development through immersion, and part of this involves proposing programs and projects that will result in citizenship development,” she added.
Search for Outstanding Volunteers
As mandated by Republic Act No. 9418, also known as the Volunteer Act of 2007, NEDA and PNVSCA have adopted this strategy to actively promote volunteerism as a tool for development.
The SOV seeks to identify and honor exceptional Filipino volunteers, volunteer organizations, local government units, and higher education institutions for their remarkable contributions to community empowerment and the promotion of volunteerism as a way of life, thereby fostering a culture of volunteerism as a fundamental aspect of nation-building.
“The SOV is ongoing and has even been extended. We encourage nominations from the public and ask everyone to please check our Facebook page for the criteria,” Castro said.
The search focuses on volunteering activities carried out by Filipino volunteers, volunteer organizations, local government units, and higher education institutions within the Philippines. It will exclude volunteer services provided to family members, activities related to religious or indoctrination purposes, and initiatives that are part of academic programs in educational institutions.
Bayanihan Media Awards
The BMA will also be presented to deserving media practitioners and organizations who embody responsible and ethical media practices.
Now on its second year, the award also recognizes the essential role of media in promoting good governance and ensuring sustainable development and nation-building, and believing that the media can be a strong ally in promoting volunteerism.
First launched in 2023, the BMA is a partnership initiative of PNVSCA, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI).
The award features four categories, namely: Best Volunteerism Reporting in Print Media, Best Volunteerism Reporting in Television, Best Volunteerism Reporting in Radio, and Best Volunteerism Reporting in Online Media.
This year’s search covers media works that were published or released from September 2023 to June 2024.
Deadline for submission of nominations is on Sept. 20, 2024.
For more information, visit the PNVSCA website: https://bit.ly/BayanihanMediaAwards. (MYP/PIA7 Cebu)
