Republic of the PhilippinesDEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A. Francisco Gold Condominium II, EDSAcorner Mapagmahal st., Diliman, QUEZONCITYTelephone Number 925.11.48' 925.88.88' 925.03.32

www.dilg.gov.ph

March 26, 2013

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR

NO.2013- 27

TO ALL PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY MAYORS, MUNICIPALMAYORS, AND DILG REGIONAL DIRECfORS, AND OTHERSCONCERNED

SUB}ECf VOLUNTEER AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM (YCP)

I. BACKGROUND

Volunteerism is the essence of people's participation in governance in the Philippine setting.Cultural practices such as the Bayanihan (for the Tagalog speaking) or Dagyaw (for theVisayan speaking) are rooted in volunteerism. Too great a task for one person to accomplishbecomes easy and light when shared by many at no cost to the one concerned. A freehelping hand from everyone is all the community needs to achieve its lofty goals especiallywhen work becomes play in carefully scheduled activities like the summer volunteerprograms through volunteer services.

There are endless opportunities and possibilities in achieving bigger and greater goals involunteerism capitalizing on the strength that every individual member of the communitymay contribute freely. There is wisdom in the saying that goes: "Two heads are better thanone" and similarly in "There is synergy in numbers."

Citizenship on the other hand carries with it the obligation along civic consciousness aptlyexemplified in the famous quote "ask not what your country can give to you, but ask whatyou can give to your country". Free services given to the country are ideal manifestations ofgood citizenship that would redound to national development and progress. A single helpinghand if multiplied by a multitude of committed, eager and willing hands at the communitylevel is a tremendous achievement in pushing the economy forward.

It is along the context of volunteerism that good governance could greatly be enhanced atthe local government levels if untapped human resource could be harnessed andmainstreamed into community endeavors in the different service areas of local governance.The civil society organizations, business sector, religious sector, professional groups, medicalgroup, or even retirees and students on vacation are a potential resource for the volunteerand citizenship program.

The Volunteer and Citizenship Program (VCP) is a program for harnessing available humanresources in the community towards productive ends which otherwise would not be possiblewithout the program. Basically, committed volunteers can enrol in the program to volunteertheir services for free in their chosen areas of expertise and interest.

n. PURPOSE

In consonance with the volunteering efforts of other government and non-government

sectors in our society to national development, this policy on the VCP Program of the

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Local Government

Academy (LGA) shall have the following aims:

2.1 To institute a policy framework that will guide the implementation of the VCP ofthe LGA-DILG in support of Republic Act 9418 otherwise known as the VolunteerAct of 2007;

2.2 To provide directions to implementing structures within the LGA, DILG throughthe Local Governance Resource Centers (LGRCs) and local government units; and

2.3 To contribute in enhancing the relationships and partnerships within the

voluntary and civil society sector with that of the local governments and other

sectors of society.

in PROGRAM COMPONENTS

3.1 Establishment of Volunteer Database Management

The program will seek to set up a mechanism to establish and sustain a

volunteer database management system built up from walk-in or online

applications as well as in coordination with the various volunteer networks.

3.2 Capacity Building

The program will provide competency- based capacity development

interventions to LGA, DILG-LGRRCs and LGU focal persons to implement the

various aspects of the Yep. Strategy of implementation will be devised to ensure

the conduct of capability building programs at the national and local levels.

3.3 Information and Education Campaign

Information dissemination and educational campaigns will be conducted bydeveloping print-based materials, uploading of online or web-based informationand utilizing other forms of media that will ensure maximum exposure of theprogram.

3.4 Establishment of a Volunteer Help Desk

There shall be in each LGU a Volunteer and Citizenship Desk that will be set up

to act as coordinator of the VCP at the LGU level. Mechanics and requirements

for the establishment of the desk shall be incorporated in the Implementation

Guidelines to be developed by the LGA.

3.5 Monitoring and Evaluation

This program will utilize Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System(RBME) to ascertain the effectiveness of the program and its impact on theLGU systems, processes, services and beneficiaries.

3.6 Awards & Recognition

Awards and recognition system shall be developed to acknowledge exemplaryLGUs and volunteers who were able to make a lasting impact to recipients ofservices provided through the VCP. This would be done in coordination withthe Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) ofthe National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

N. ROLES AND RESPONSmILITIES

5.1 Local Government Academy - Department of the Interior and LocalGovernment (LGA-DILG)

5.1.1 Provide the policy framework and guidelines for the implementation of theVolunteer and Citizenship Program (VCP);

5.1.2 Coordinate with the Philippine National Volunteer Service Agency(PNVSCA» local government units and national volunteer organizations in theimplementation of the Volunteer Act of 2007 which is the basis in theformulation of this Memorandum Circular;

5.1.3 Coordinate with the DILG regional offices/Local Governance RegionalResource Centers (LGRRCs) on the implementation of the VCP;

5.1.4 Conduct research and forums to discuss issues affecting volunteerism andcitizen's involvement in local development activities;

5.1.5 Develop information and communication campaign materials on the VCP;5.1.6 Design and conduct capacity building interventions on the VCP for DILG and

local government volunteer and citizenship desk focal persons;5.1.7 Develop a results-based monitoring and evaluation system for the program;5.1.8 Institute an awards and recognition mechanism for outstanding LGUs and

volunteers in coordination with the PNVSCA; and5.1.9 Maintain a database on the supply of volunteers and LGU demands for their

services) and resources available for volunteering activities.

5.2 DILG Regional Offices/ Local Governance Regional Resource Centers

5.2.1 Provide focal persons on VCP) preferably the LGRRC Focal Person onCitizenship and Public Education;

5.2.2 Send participants to the orientation and capacity building programs of theLGA on the VCP;

5.2.3 Monitor compliance of LGUs in the implementation of the VCP;5.2.4 Maintain and update the regional database of available volunteers and LGU

capacity gaps and demands; and5.2.5 Conduct IEC campaign on the VCP for LGUs.

5.3 Local Government Units/V olunteer and Citizenship Desks

5.3.1 Designate a focal person on VCP;5.3.2 Conduct IEC campaign on the VCP at the local level;5.3.3 Implement matching of volunteers with the existing demands or gaps at the

local governments based on the capacity development agenda;5.3.4 Maintain a profile and database of locally available volunteers;5.3.5 Provide office space and equipment for the VCP desk focal person to

implement VCP programs and activities;5.3.6 Send participants to the orientation and capacity building programs of the

LGA and DILG- LGRRCs on the VCP;5.3.7 Provide available resources to implement VCP programs and activities;5.3.8 Encourage local companies to set up volunteer program as part of their

corporate social responsibility (CSR);5.3.9 Provide standard criteria on the selection of individual volunteer or group;5.3.10 Provide allowances and incentives, as far as practicable, to volunteer/s assigned

in the localities; and5.3.11 Monitor and assess volunteer/s performance

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

DILG-OSEC OUTGOING 13-01020