KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) continues to recognize the local government units’ exemplary efforts on volunteerism through the Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV).

The PNVSCA heads the SOV and taps its head agency, the National Economic and Development Authority which leads the regional validation and evaluation of nominees.

Ma. Lulu Valencia, chief economic development specialist of the Development Research Division of the NEDA 12, said the conferment of the Special Award for the Local Government Unit, one of the three categories of the SOV started in 2019.

“This is conferred to LGUs that implement outstanding volunteer programs and promotes the participation of civil society in local governance,” Valencia said.

An LGU must also actively, consistently, and continuously implement a volunteer program for the last four years for it to achieve the award.

Valencia added that LGU can nominate itself or can be nominated by organizations in the community which can vouch the volunteer activities of the LGU. 

She is hopeful that more LGUs will participate in the search this year.

Meanwhile, aside from the Special Award for the Local Government Unit, other categories of the SOV are Individual-Youth, Individual-Adult, Organization- Non-Profit, and Organization-Corporate.

For more information regarding the search, interested individuals may visit the Facebook pages of the PNVSCA or NEDA Regional Office 12 Soccsksargen. Nomination forms can also be downloaded in the official websites of the said offices.

Valencia said the deadline of submission of nominations is on September 15, 2022 while the awarding of the national awardees will be in December. (PIA XII)