CALOOCAN (PIA) – The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) launched Friday, August 27, its activities for this year’s National Volunteer’s Month (NVM) 2021.

The NVM is celebrated every December 5, but PNVSCA and its partner agencies opted to commence the activities as early as August this year.

“According to the NVM Steering Committee, it’s better to start the activities ahead. There is no need for us to wait for December to launch these contests,” PNVSCA Executive Director Donald Gawe said in his remarks.

The yearly NVM, spearheaded by PNVSCA, is a celebration to promote volunteerism, showcase best practices, launch new initiatives, and enhance partnerships.

With the support from the National Development Authority (NEDA), the PNVSCA led this volunteering advocacy as a strategy to empower volunteerism in nation-building.

“I laud PNVSCA for conceptualizing innovative and creative ways to promote volunteerism and stimulate interest in this annual activity despite the pandemic that we are facing,” NEDA USec. Mercedita Sombilla said.

Committee members from the national government, regional offices, and private sectors expressed their commitment to helping plan the celebration and promoting the NVM events.

The NVM launched four key activities: the Search for Outstanding COVID-19 Volunteers 2021, Spoken Word Poetry Contest, Philippine Volunteers March Translation Contest, and BayaNEDAhan Best Projects.

PNVSCA chief emphasized that this celebration is for “our victors, which we recognize as our volunteers.”

“We are still battling a health crisis, but we hope that through these simple yet meaningful activities to recognize the effort, sacrifices, and dedication of our volunteers, we will be able to spark hope, create a solution-driven mindset, and inspire the public to become proactive in responding to the pandemic challenges,” Gawe said. (JMB/PIA-IDPD)