By Jordan G. Habbiling
THE city council has passed a resolution earnestly encouraging all government offices in the city to credit as significant service experience all voluntary services rendered during this COVID-19 crisis by individuals who wish to apply in government service.
Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, main author of the resolution, said these volunteers have been exposed to “real-life” circumstances, thus earning practical knowledge and skills on top of their formal education.
“Crucial is this time of pandemic where everybody needs everybody. There needs to be a mechanism of a credit system that acknowledges the efforts of volunteers, especially those who wish to join the government service,” Cayabas asserted.
Cayabas claimed such a credit system will encourage individuals to remain actively engaged and visible in the community and may inspire others to follow suit.
Cayabas described these volunteers as “unsung heroes” for having extended their voluntary services during these extraordinary times whereby money was not their primary driving force in helping the community.
“Every volunteer service is highly appreciated as the government cannot not do it alone,” Cayabas said.
The councilor recognized the vital contribution of volunteers to the locality by serving as force multipliers to the good efforts of the government.
The approved resolution hinges on RA 9148 or the Volunteer Act of 2007 which aims to strengthen the inculcation of volunteerism as a way of life in every Filipino, honoring the tradition of “bayanihan” to foster social justice, solidarity, and sustainable development.
Section 3 of the act stresses the need to give due recognition to the roles and contributions of volunteers to the society.
“It is therefore imperative on the part of the government to reciprocate the volunteers’ commendable efforts,” Cayabas concluded.
