Seven (7) community volunteer organizations from Bicol out of 108 awardees across the Philippines were recognized during the 4^th Bayani Ka! Awards last October 4, 2018 at Golden Peak Hotel and Suites, Cebu City.

The Bayani Ka! Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the highest recognition for volunteers who took initiative in improving their communities. All regional winners across the country were recognized as Community-Driven Development (CDD) champions.

The annual recognition also aims to create a pool of champions promoting the CDD strategy.

As of August 13, 2018, the program was able to train 577,833 community volunteers in the country and of which 75,613 are Bicolanos.

Usec. Malou T. Jarabe, officer-in-charge of DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS, said that the biggest gain of the program was to produce community volunteers.

“Sa aming inisyal nai-kwenta, umaabot sa Php 21.6 billion ang economic value na nai-produce ng ating community volunteers pero ito ay para lamang sa tatlong (3) araw na pagvovolunteer sa isang taon na may minimum amount na Php 260.00 (In our initial computation, the economic value produced by the community volunteers is Php 21.6 billion which is only for three (3) days of volunteering in one (1) year with a minimum amount of Php 260.00),” she said.

This shows that all volunteer groups have greatly contributed to the success of strengthening empowerment in the communities, improving the delivery of services, pursuing national development and poverty reduction.

“Itong Bayani Ka! Awards ay hindi sapat upang kayo [community volunteers] ay aming pasalamatan sapagkat malaki ang inyong kontribusyon hindi lamang sa DSWD pati rin sa buong bansa (This Bayani Ka! Awards is not enough to thank the community volunteers since these volunteers have countless contribution not only to DSWD but to our country),” Jarabe said.

Each CDD champion has received a plaque of recognition and development incentive worth Php2,000.00 which will be used for the group’s initiatives.

Here is the complete list of national awardees from Bicol Region:

Gender and Development category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Maint, Bato, Camarines Sur

Environment Protection category

Awardee: Kabataan para sa Karunungan at Kalikasan

Address: Donsol, Sorsogon

Improved Local Governance category

Awardee: Barangay Local Government of Maalo

Address: Juban, Sorsogon

Indigenous Peoples’ Welfare category

Awardee: Agta-Tabangnon

Address: Brgy. San Rafael, Bulusan, Sorsogon

Promotion of Just Peace category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Mainit, Bato, Camarines Sur

Person with Disability category

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Matacla, Goa, Camarines Sur

Elderly

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Mobo, Masbate

Youth

Awardee: Kabataan para sa Karunungan at Kalikasan

Address: Donsol, Sorsogon

Sustained Community Volunteer Group

Awardee: Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee

Address: Brgy. Sta. Lourdes, Barcelona, Sorsogon

/ramsertan/