QUEZON CITY -- To intensify its advocacy for volunteerism as a cross-cutting development strategy, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) led by Executive Director Donald James D. Gawe engaged five major stakeholders in four different events on 17 March 2023.

With the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)

PNVSCA met with the representatives of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to explore initiatives and partnerships in advocating volunteerism in the banking and finance sector. 

ED Gawe emphasized that as the only government financial institution that has adopted the Volunteer Program in the Public Sector (CSC MC No. 23, series of 2012) and the Volunteer Act of 2007 by implementing a volunteer program for its employees, LBP serves as a model for other government agencies to learn from its best practices in employee volunteering. Indeed, social responsibility is one of the LBP’s core values that has contributed to the strong spirit of volunteerism in the workplace.

As a testament to LBP’s pioneering efforts in a sustainable employee-driven volunteer program in the public sector, LandBank was given the National Outstanding Volunteer Award in the Organization – Corporate category of the PNVSCA’s Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) in 2018. 

To maximize LBP’s best practices on volunteer program implementation and management, PNVSCA encouraged LBP representatives to be part of the National Volunteerism Resource Pool (NVRP)—a PNVSCA initiative that taps experts in the field to build capacities of the public, business, and civil society organizations on volunteer management towards a more conducive environment for volunteering.

Given its function in the supervision and regulation of the operation of banks in the country, BSP also welcomed the collaboration with PNVSCA. Further, BSP committed to assisting PNVSCA in connecting to its network of industries such as the universal, rural, and cooperative banks, thus helping in promoting volunteerism as a way of life for every Filipino.

LBP and BSP also agreed to collaborate with PNVSCA in conducting a forum on volunteerism in the banking and finance sector which will be held in August 2023, and to include a module on Volunteerism 101 in the human resource development program for their newly onboard employees to promote employee volunteering in the industry.

The meeting was held at the LBP Main Office in Malate, Manila.

With the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

PNVSCA representatives attended the 2nd Consultation Meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Results-Based Incentive (RBI) Program of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) – Component 2: Minimizing Solid Waste in Waterways which is being implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The MMFMP-Component 2 aims to improve the solid waste management system within the communities near the project drainage areas by introducing improved solid waste collection services, community mobilization, awareness, and incentive-based improved waste collection, thus the RBI Program.

The Community-Based Solid Waste Management Assessment Tool that was drafted during the 1st RBI TWG meeting was presented to gather further comments and recommendations from the TWG members. 

Volunteerism, being a strategy in any development undertaking, was proposed to be incorporated into the criteria in the implementation of the waste collection system, particularly the engagement of volunteer coordinators and volunteer waste collectors. 

Upon finalization, the assessment tool shall be used to determine the best-performing MMFMP barangays that will receive in-kind incentives to further improve the barangay’s waste management system.

The target schedule for the self-assessment of shortlisted barangays will be in April 2023 while on-site validation will be in May 2023.

Facilitated by MMDA Project Management Office, the consultation meeting was held at the Manila City Conference Room of the MMDA building in Makati City.

With the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)

PNVSCA visited the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila to discuss possible collaboration in the promotion of volunteerism in the academe.

The PNVSCA and PUP representatives both believe in the importance of promoting and integrating volunteerism in the academe and identified the following areas for possible collaboration: (1) integrating volunteerism in the culture and arts and setting up a Technical Working Group (TWG) among higher education institutions (HEIs) with PUP as possible Chair; (2) encouraging the more than 100 student organizations in the University to include volunteerism in their projects and activities; (3) inviting PUP as a member to the TWG on Education set up by the PNVSCA which will work on integrating volunteerism in the education curriculum;  and (4) including Volunteer Management training in the NSTP initiatives of the University.

The PNVSCA representatives were welcomed by a performance from the different resident cultural groups of the University, followed by a tour of the UCCA. PUP is the largest state university in the country with more than 70,000 students and 22 branches and campuses.

With the Intramuros Administration

The PNVSCA Employees Association (PEA) joined the Intramuros Administration (IA) in the launch of ‘Cleantramuros’ on Friday, March 17. Together with more than 300 volunteers from the public and the private sectors including the academic institutions, PNVSCA employees helped clean up Intramuros particularly Bonifacio Drive, Gen. Luna Street, Andres Soriano Avenue, Sta. Lucia Street, Plaza Espana, Plaza Sto. Tomas, Plaza Roma, and Plazuela de Sta. Isabel.

IA Administrator Atty. Joan M. Padilla led the kick-off activity and said in her speech that her desire to give Intramuros the attention and love that it deserves inspired her to initiate the activity, more especially since Intramuros has already repeatedly won the World Travel Awards as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction.

Hoping to obtain the same title this year, Atty. Padilla shared that the clean-up drive “intends to educate and to reveal the true essence and beauty of a place.” The Administrator also described the Walled City as a place that has a well-grounded history, and if it was valued and appreciated, Intramuros would be Manila’s Gem. The clean-up drive will be implemented twice a month.

In a conversation with PEA officers, IA Officer-in-Charge of Urban Planning and Community Development Mr. Jeffrey P. Yap mentioned that Cleantramuros will also engage schools and universities around Intramuros, especially since the schools have an NSTP program. PNVSCA Exec. Dir. Gawe also talked to IA Administrator Padilla and gave his insights on possible ways to sustain the Cleantramuros volunteering activity.

Among the participants of the kick-off event were the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Navy, Barangay units in Manila area, Max’s Restaurant, Greenwich, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and José Rizal University. (Raymart V. Maruquez, Fely M. Baday, Maribel F. Larracochea, Sheena C. Alcala- PNVSCA)