Outstanding volunteers recognized

Davao Region’s Most Outstanding Volunteer Individual, Mrs. Irene M. Ang, and Most Outstanding Volunteer Organization (Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPO) Association of Davao del Sur, Inc, were cited for their accomplishments at a simple ceremony during the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11’s regular meeting last December 15 at the NEDA-RDC 11 Center, Davao City.  The ceremony was one of the highlights of the Council’s meeting.
RDC 11 chair Vicente T. Lao, vice-chair and NEDA 11 regional director Maria Lourdes D. Lim handed the awards to Mrs. Ang and BSPO president Ms. Ignacia Diel.
Ang, a former public school teacher and an entrepreneur today, is a strong  supporter of public elementary and secondary schools in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. The selfless contributions and services she rendered made a very big difference in the lives of disadvantaged school children in her community. 
The BSPO, Inc., on the other hand, is a civic organization that has been serving as an extension arm of the Provincial Population Office of Davao del Sur for over twenty years now. The organization’s assistance to the Davao del Sur provincial government led to wider awareness and deeper appreciation among townfolks of the local government’s family planning and reproductive health services. 
Earlier this year, the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), the government agency mandated to promote and coordinate volunteer programs and services in the Philippines, launched the nationwide Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) 2009. The SOV is an annual recognition of volunteers and volunteer organizations that highlight best practices and models of volunteering in the country.  It serves as the centerpiece of the celebration of the National Volunteer Month (NVM) every December, which is aimed at encouraging and supporting the implementation of volunteering activities in their various modes and forms by individuals, groups and organizations. 
The regional winners were chosen following a series of evaluations conducted by the Davao Regional Search Committee (RSC) composed of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) 11, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 11, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO)-Davao City, Davao Medical School Foundation –Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHC), and the NEDA Regional Office 11 as committee chair.