DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 16 (PIA) -- In its site visit and consultation in Dumaguete City, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) has created stronger ties with some institutions here in advocating volunteerism as a driver of community development.

In a Kapihan sa PIA forum, PNVSCA Executive Director Donald James Gawe thanked their local partners for supporting their advocacy activities in the city known for its many indigenous practices related to volunteering.

Gawe cited the importance of volunteerism especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which showed that the spirit of volunteerism is alive among the Filipinos.

With that, he acknowledged one of the Kapihan guests, Romualdo “Dondee" Señeris II, who was an awardee in last year’s Search for Outstanding Covid-19 Volunteers in Central Visayas.

Señeris is a volunteer for a non-government organization based in Negros Oriental and was awarded the "Most Outstanding COVID-19 Volunteer" for the Individual Category.

Among his notable contributions were initiating trainings and capacity-buildings for local government units and other concerned organizations, and conducting contact tracing, data analysis, assessment, and interpretation of COVID-19 cases.

In line with the goal of ensuring an enabling environment towards impactful volunteer engagement at the local level, PNVSCA and the United States Peace Corps-Philippines (USPC PH) opted to hold a series of volunteerism mainstreaming forums with Silliman University (SU), Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and other colleges here.

During its consultation and forum, both SU and NORSU shared information about their programs and projects related to volunteering as well as their efforts to integrate volunteerism in the curriculum.

The PNVSCA official said that the province has 17 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and “it would be practical and beneficial to encourage these HEIs to integrate volunteerism in their program and services.”

Gawe also announced its annual search for outstanding volunteers (SOV) to recognize exemplary efforts through volunteerism this December 2022 as an observance of National Volunteer Month.

The search aims to identify and recognize outstanding Filipino volunteers and organizations in three categories: individual with youth and adult; organization, a non-profit and corporate; and special award for LGU.

PNVSCA is mandated to promote and coordinate volunteer programs and services in the Philippines to maximize the benefits that may be derived from volunteer assistance and properly gauge the contribution of volunteers to national development and international cooperation. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)