CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) – To engage with stakeholders on the volunteering efforts in the environmental sector, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) held a virtual consultation activity titled “Assessing and Stocktaking Volunteerism Efforts in the Environment Sector” on January 28.

Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (DENR – SCIS), the PNVSCA gathered 106 participants from various organizations to assess the level of engagement of environmental sector volunteers’ and discuss ways to enhance volunteerism to achieve outcomes.

“This workshop will bring out good practices being done or adopted by some groups that are worth sharing and replicating,” PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe said.

Gawe added that good practices would showcase boundless opportunities for volunteering, and some volunteering efforts might need improvement.

The PNVSCA cited that this activity aims to focus on the role and contributions of volunteers in the environment sector, highlight good volunteering practices, and determine mechanisms to strengthen volunteerism.

Meanwhile, the DENR expressed that this activity will comprehensively assess volunteers’ engagement and commitment.

“Kung ano ang ginagawa natin sa ating mga sarili, sa ating kapaligiran, ay may malaking kabuluhan, at epekto sa ating mga anak, at sa mga susunod pang mga henerasyon,”  DENR – SCIS Director IV Dr. Hiro V. Masuda said.

Masuda emphasized that everyone plays a vital and significant role in our country’s environment and natural resources.

To wrap up the event, the workshop participants recited the pledge of commitment to implement environmental actions and to improve country’s environmental quality and conservation for present and future generations.

“We hope that this activity is just the beginning of collaborative undertakings with DENR in providing the conducive and enabling environment for volunteering,” Gawe said.  (JMB/PIA-IDPD)