CEBU CITY, Cebu, Feb. 12 (PIA) -- The campaign for international and national volunteering is in full swing as the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) and the Global Initiative for Exchange and Development Inc. (GIED) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance its collaboration in promoting the spirit of volunteerism locally and internationally.

The signing of the MOA was one of the highlights of the Partnership Launching Event between GIED and Mercy Ships held on Feb. 11 at the Conference Hall of Golden Prince Hotel, Cebu City.

PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe and GIED President Rhenelyn Queen Dadulo led the signing of the agreement.

Under the MOA, PNVSCA, as the government institution mandated to formulate policies and guidelines and coordinate activities of local and international volunteer service organizations, will collaborate with GIED and its new partner Mercy Ships and focus in the promotion and advocacy of international and national volunteering.

The executive director of PNVSCA said the agency will provide all the support needed to realize the goal of the partnership.

“A do it alone approach is never the best strategy for growth, that is why we in PNVSCA fully support[s] this newly formed alliance with GIED and Mercy Ships in highlighting the values of volunteerism in the global community," Gawe said.

“I believe that collaboration in strategic partnerships is fundamental to achieve a sustainable growth. I hope that this event will serve as a catalyst to everyone to also share a common platform for sharing knowledge and expertise for the development of volunteerism," he added.

With the agreement, the PNVSCA and GIED will also focus on the regulation and provision for all aspects of assistance through volunteers who will be deployed to development projects and activities of national government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations and work with counterparts in skills and technology sharing and development.

GIED will serve as PNVSCA’s partner in advocating volunteerism in the international community, collaborate with the agency in capacity building activities, skills and training for volunteers, and in expanding the connections and collaborations with international volunteer organizations.

Dadulo said she looks forward to the alliance and considers the partnership as an instrument to advocate and mobilize more volunteers especially in the global community and create a long-lasting impact on the lives of other people.

“We look forward to this bond that will be strengthened by our collaboration and challenge ourselves in realizing our advocacies and be united with a cause as we share the same value of selfless service. This development that we see is an opportunity to be able to value ourselves as we provide service externally, and as we look and work with the marginalized people and do voluntary service in any way we can," said Dadulo. (RGC/PIA7)