Pagadian City, Sept. 24
(PIA) – The Philippine Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), in partnership
with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Region 9 will conduct a
Regional Symposium on Volunteerism on October 4, 2012 in Zamboanga City.
NEDA 9 officer-in-charge
Gemma Mendoza said, the purpose of the activity is to advocate volunteerism especially
at the local level to enable more people and communities to appreciate the
benefits of volunteer service and participate in volunteerism for
nation-building.
She said, the symposium
will also serve as a venue to generate inputs from the regional level for the
formulation of the Road Map for the Voluntary Sector as provided for in
Republic Act (RA) 9418, otherwise known as the Volunteer Act of 2007.
As stated in Section 2 of
RA 9418, it is the policy of the State to promote the participation of the
various sectors of the Filipino society, and as necessary, international and
foreign volunteer organizations in public and civic affairs, adopt and
strengthen the practice of volunteerism as a strategy in order to attain
national development and international understanding.
The inculcation of volunteerism as a way of life
shall rekindle in every Filipino the time-honored tradition of bayanihan to
foster social justice, solidarity and sustainable development, the Act further
stated.
The said symposium will
consist of presentation, open forum and small group workshops with focus on
Volunteerism and RA 9418, Volunteerism and the Regional Development Thrusts and
Priorities 2011-2016 and on the Road Map for RA 9418, Mendoza added. (JPA/CAL/PIA9)