QUEZON City’s Community Relations Office has conducted a training workshop on its Bayanihang Bayan, a volunteer and citizenship program.
In compliance with Republic Act 9418 of 2007 or the Volunteer Act, Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered the conduct of the training workshops.
The law provides a policy framework on volunteer programs in national government agencies and local government units to promote and encourage volunteerism in government programs and projects. City hall employees are encouraged to participate in volunteer services for the social, economic and humanitarian development of different communities.
Last Sept. 19, over 40 volunteers from different organizations and offices of the city government attended the training workshop.
City Ordinance 2416 of 2015 declares December as volunteer month in Quezon City, in support of Presidential Proclamation 194 issued on Dec. 7, 1987 declaring every fifth of December as International Volunteer Day.
“On September 3, 2014, the Honorable Mayor Herbert M. Bautista issued an Executive Order No. 15, Series of 2014, formalizing the creation of Quezon City Volunteer and Citizenship Desk to be known as the Bayanihang Bayan sa Quezon City Program, in support of Republic Act No. 9418 and in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum Circular No. 2013-27,” the ordinance read.
Quezon City was once dubbed as the non-government organizations capital of the country, being home to various volunteer organizations such as Gawad Kalinga, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Kapamilya Foundation, and Kapuso Foundation.
The city government was among the first cities to send volunteers to disaster areas during and after the onslaught of typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013.
