Key definitions under the Act
- “Volunteerism” means an act involving a wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and developmental interventions, that provides an enabling and empowering environment for both beneficiary and volunteer.
- Volunteerism must be undertaken for reasons arising from socio developmental, business or corporate orientation, commitment or conviction for the attainment of the public good, where monetary and other incentives or reward are not the primary motivating factors.
- “Volunteer” refers to an individual or group who, based on sociodevelopmental, business and corporate orientation, commitment or conviction, contributes time, service and resources on a full-time or part-time basis to a just and essential social development cause, mission or endeavor in the belief that the activity is mutually meaningful and beneficial to public interest as well as to the volunteer.
- “Volunteer service organization” means a local or foreign group that recruits, trains, deploys, and supports volunteer workers to programs and projects implemented by them or by other organizations, including providing information, capability building, advocacy and networking for the common good.
- “Voluntary sector” refers to sectors of Philippine society that organize themselves into volunteers for local and national development and international cooperation and understanding.
Private-sector and foreign volunteer roles
- Volunteerism in the academe includes provision of technical assistance, sharing of technology, and upgrading quality of education and curriculum methodologies, while also providing career enhancement and exposure to volunteers.
- Volunteerism in the corporate sector is an expression of corporate social responsibility and citizenship through activities recognized by the company where employees give time, skills and resources to the company’s internal and/or external communities.
- Corporate volunteering includes, among others: employee giving of material resources to causes; employee-led fund-raising; one-time outreach activities; environmental campaigns; medical and health-related advocacies; knowledge and change management; scholarship programs; and sharing expertise through mentoring, tutoring, training, business, consulting/advising, and pro bono services on a case-to-case basis.
- Volunteerism by not-for-profit organizations includes complementary service delivery and human resource development in underserved communities, and advocacy for and articulation of the causes of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
- Volunteerism by foreign volunteer organizations includes provision of technical assistance not locally accessible in priority development areas, within the framework of technical cooperation and sociocultural exchange.
Government role and national agencies
- The government must coordinate, facilitate, and encourage the participation of the voluntary sector to promote, utilize, and recognize volunteerism in national development and international cooperation by providing an enabling and conducive environment for volunteer work.
- The PNVSCA, created by Executive Order No. 134 (as amended), must implement and execute the provisions of the Act.
- The PNVSCA must review and formulate policies and guidelines for the national volunteer service program consistent with national development priorities.
- The PNVSCA must coordinate, monitor and evaluate the national volunteer service program so that volunteer assistance fits into total national development goals.
- The PNVSCA must act as a clearing house for matters pertaining to international volunteer services.
- The PNVSCA must develop and implement prototypes and models of volunteering for adoption by institutions and communities.
- The PNVSCA must provide technical services and support for capability building of volunteers and volunteer organizations.
- The PNVSCA must conduct advocacy for promotion and recognition of volunteerism as a tool for development.
- The PNVSCA must establish and maintain a national network of volunteer organizations and serve as a liaison among local and foreign governmental private voluntary organizations, including United Nations Volunteers (UNV).
- The PNVSCA must administer all PNVSCA funds from all sources, including foreign aid, in accordance with accounting and auditing requirements.
- The PNVSCA executive director must submit an organizational plan upon advice of the MultiSectoral Advisory Body to the Department of Budget and Management.
MultiSectoral Advisory Body (MSAB) structure and duties
- The MultiSectoral Advisory Body (MSAB), created under Executive Order No. 635, must be reconstituted to assist the PNVSCA.
- The MSAB must include the following members: NEDA; DepED; DFA; DOJ; DILG; DSWD; CHED; Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Office of the President; representatives from the corporate sector; representatives from the private academe sector; and representatives from the not-for-profit sector.
- All member government agencies must be represented at least by an assistant secretary, and private-sector agencies must be represented at least by their highest executive officers.
- Government agencies must be permanent members, while private-sector representatives must serve for a two-year term.
- The MSAB chair must be elected from among the members.
- The PNVSCA executive director, as an ex officio member, must serve as permanent vice chair.
- The MSAB may call representatives of other government agencies and/or private sector to serve as resource persons on volunteerism as the need arises.
- The MSAB must provide advice in the formulation of policies and guidelines for the national volunteer service program.
- The MSAB must provide consultative and technical advisory services on volunteer matters.
- The MSAB must serve as a forum to enhance and strengthen linkages between and among volunteer groups and communities.
Special provisions: infrastructure, education, programs, recognition, visas
- The PNVSCA must develop and establish a system of national registration and networking to improve coordination of volunteers and volunteer service organizations and to widen sharing and complementing of information, experiences and resources.
- The DepEd and CHED must integrate volunteerism as part of the curriculum in basic and higher education to raise youth consciousness and develop a culture of volunteerism among the citizenry.
- National government agencies and LGUs must establish volunteer programs in their respective offices to promote and encourage volunteering in government programs and projects.
- National government agencies and LGUs must enjoin government employees to render volunteer service in social, economic and humanitarian development undertakings in the community.
- Government agencies and NGOs implementing volunteer programs are encouraged to develop and provide a recognition and incentive package for volunteers that may include allowance, insurance, training, and the grant of privileges and status to Filipino overseas volunteers at par with Filipino overseas workers.
- Foreign volunteers approved for assignment by the PNVSCA, and their legal dependents, may be entitled to 47 (a) (2) visa with multiple entry privileges plus corresponding exemption from visa and immigration fees and other related processing/application fees or charges.
- Foreign nationals already in the Philippines who have been approved for volunteer assignment by the PNVSCA may avail of the same visa category and privileges upon endorsement by the PNVSCA to the DOJ.
Research, implementation rules, and PNVSCA mechanisms
- An institutional mechanism must be established to be spearheaded and administered by the PNVSCA for continuing research, documentation, recognition, and modeling of best volunteer practices.
- The PNVSCA must consult with relevant government agencies, NGOs, private institutions, and persons to effect the setting up of the institutional mechanism and to determine all requirements and necessary acts for effective implementation.
- The PNVSCA, with advice from the MSAB, must promulgate rules and regulations to effectively implement the Act.
Repeal and effectivity rules
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations, or parts thereof, that are contrary to or inconsistent with the Act—including Section 12 of Executive Order No. 635—must be deemed repealed or modified accordingly.
- The Act must take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
- Republic Act No. 9418 was approved on April 10, 2007.