House OKs volunteerism act

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading the proposed Volunteerism in Nation Building (VNB) Act of 2012 authored by several lawmakers led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

“It is imperative to lay down a legal and institutional framework which would encourage the various sectors of society to volunteer and be active partners of government in nation-building,” Belmonte said after House Bill 6713 hurdled the plenary.

Manila Rep. Benjamin Asilo, chairman of the sponsoring House committee on people’s participation, said “the proposed measure should not only institutionalize the VNB framework but sustain partnership among national government agencies, LGUs, congressional districts, and civil society organizations in community and nation-building.”

Other authors of HB 6713 (the substitute bill to the original HB 4374) were Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II with Representatives Freddie Tinga, Rufus Rodriguez, Juan Edgardo Angara, Jerry Treñas, Hermilando Mandanas, Raul Daza, Jesus Crispin Remulla, Maria Isabelle Climaco, Mel Senen Sarmiento, Rodolfo Valencia, Edcel Lagman, and Minority leader Danilo Suarez, among others.

The measure defines the mission and vision of the VNB framework, which will enjoin all sectors to practice “bayanihan,” harness volunteerism to stimulate local and national development, and provides the key areas of government where volunteerism will be harnessed.

Under HB 6713, volunteerism refers to “an act involving a wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and developmental interventions that provide an enabling and empowering environment, both on the part of the beneficiary and the volunteer rendering the act, undertaken for reasons arising from socio-developmental, business or corporate orientation, commitment or conviction for the attainment of the public good and where monetary and other incentives or reward are not the primary motivating factors.”