Ilonggos urged to be volunteers
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 6 here is urging Ilonggos to be part of the Bayanihang Bayan Volunteers network which is organized by the agency.
Those who are interested to register as volunteers may go to SM City Iloilo and look for the DSWD desk during the Government Express Goes to the Mall at the Ground Floor area from September 7-11, 2009. DSWD personnel will be there to facilitate the registration. This activity is part of the 109th Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine Civil Service with the theme, “Honoring our Heroes in Republic Service-Responsive, Ethical Public Servants with Vision, Impact, Commitment, and Excellence.”
The BBP is a volunteer program that aims to build strong partnership between the government and private sector in implementing government programs and projects. Memorandum Order No. 45 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in December 2001 mandates all government agencies to implement the Bayanihang Bayan Program (BBP) for Government Service.
At the DSWD, the BBP has been integrated into the Department’s National Volunteer Program, which provides opportunities for individuals, groups and organizations to extend voluntary service in the implementation of social welfare and development as well as disaster operations.
Registration maybe done by individuals or organization. A volunteer is an individual or a group of individuals who can contribute time, service and resources for a “not-for-profit” cause, in the belief that the assistance rendered would be beneficial to others and satisfy personal need to help.
A Bayanihang Bayan Volunteer Individual must be:
- At least 15 years of age. Those below 21 years of age will require the consent of their parent or legal guardian
- Physically & mentally capable of rendering volunteer work
- Willing to commit his/her/time, resources and talents
- Willing to work without material or financial remuneration
- Willing to learn and undergo training in volunteerism and specialized skills, if needed
- Willing to abide by the policies and procedures of the center/institution/community/ where he/she will be assigned
- Willing to be supervised by an assigned DSWD staff and
- For foreigners, a showing of legality of stay in the Philippines
- A Bayanihang Bayan Volunteer Organization must:
- Have physically & mentally fit personnel capable of rendering volunteer work
- Be able to provide support or benefit to its members during the course of the volunteer work.
- Be willing to commit time, resources and talent to a specific volunteer work without material or financial compensation
- Willing to learn and undergo training in volunteerism and specialized skills, if needed
- Must be willing to abide by the policies and procedures of the center/institution/community and to be supervised
- A bilateral agreement or memorandum of agreement between the head of the organization volunteering and the Philippine government represented by the DSWD Secretary is needed for foreign organizations interested to volunteer.