The Social Development Committee (SDC) XI, led by its Chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) XI Regional Director Anabelle B. Yumang, awarded Davao Region qualifiers to the CY 2024 Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) during the Committee’s 4th Quarter Regular Meeting on November 28, 2024 at the D’Leonor Hotel, J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City.
The SOV is the highlight of the National Volunteer Month (NVM), observed every December under Presidential Proclamation No. 55, s. 1998. This initiative, led by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), promotes volunteerism as a vital development tool, in line with Republic Act No. 9418, known as the Volunteer Act of 2007.
Declared as Davao Region’s Outstanding Volunteer 2024 under the Individual Category is Mr. Ruben L. Colmo, Jr. of Mati City, Davao Oriental. Mr. Colmo is recognized for his engagement in various volunteering activities, such as the Pabahayanihan Program, which provides shelter for the poor; the Simbayanihan initiative, focused on building and renovating churches; values enhancement and moral recovery programs; feeding activities; and the distribution of school supplies, among others.
The Bantay Dagat Volunteers Association of Davao, on the other hand, was declared as the Regional Winner under the Organization non-profit category for their environmental conservation efforts. Composed of about 350 volunteers, the organization has been conducting coastal clean-ups and underwater diving every Saturday morning for over eight years. They recover and collect litter, particularly PET bottles, which are then taken to their material recycling facility in Toril, Davao City. There, the materials undergo processing, with the crushed plastics being utilized as an essential component in construction materials—an innovative technology for managing plastic waste. The material recycling facility is a micro-enterprise development project initiated by Bantay Dagat to operate a community-based social enterprise aimed at providing livelihood opportunities for its volunteers.
Also nominated under the individual category were Mr. Vincenzo A. Molejon, Jr. of the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) for his volunteerism activities on Education, Disaster Response, Child/Youth Development Welfare, and Peace Building; and Dr. Ruth Gamboa of UP Mindanao for her dedicated service and significant volunteerism activities, particularly on Education and Environmental Conservation.
Other Regional qualifiers for the Organization Category were Criados (or servants) of the Davao Medical School Foundation for their initiatives on Health, Medical and Dental missions; and YAMOG or the Yond Adventure Mountain – Caving Outdoor Group of the Municipality of New Corella, Davao del Norte Province for their activities on Education and Environmental Conservation, and Caving Preservations.