The Regional Development Council of SOCCSKSARGEN (RDC XII) supports the move to sustain youth volunteerism program in the area through Resolution No. 91, Series of 2014. Region XII or SOCCSKSARGEN is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat as well as the cities of Koronadal, General Santos, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
During the 48th regular meeting of the RDC XII, Ret. Col. Celestino Desamito , a Special Non-Voting Member of the Council, pushed for the continuing adoption of volunteerism as a strategy for sustainable development through the implementation of the SOCCSKSARGEN Youth Volunteerism Program which started two years ago involving elementary school pupils and high school students.
“This volunteerism program aims to develop the students of Region XII at all levels into responsible individuals with a strong commitment to help achieve growth and development of their respective communities,” Desamito explained.
“The program would also create a broad-based movement, especially involving individual families and local communities with dedication and enthusiasm to work in achieving local and regional development through volunteerism,” he further stated.
It will also enhance the partnership among Local Government Units (LGUs), Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Councils in Region XII and RDC XII to pursue the region’s development goals and objectives through volunteerism.
According to Desamito, the program will now be included in volunteerism among college students in the region starting June 2015. The students will come from the five state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region who are taking up the National Service Training Program (NSTP).
The participants shall undergo a modular training in their respective school campuses and an immersion in depressed barangays for an actual exposure to community living.
Aside from the SUCs, the following institutions shall be tapped to assist in the program’s implementation: TESDA, DepEd, CHED, DENR, DILG, PNP and the Boy Scouts Council. The LGUs and civil society organizations/non-government associations shall also take active part in the implementation of the program.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) shall be executed between and among these entities to properly execute the SYVP. Desamito as the SYPV overall coordinator shall update the RDC XII on the program’s implementation.
The NEDA Regional Office (NRO) XII shall provide technical secretariat support to the program, particularly in preparing and signing of the MOU and in facilitating the presentation of reports on program implementation to RDC XII.
