FOLLOWING the enactment of the "The La Trinidad Accredited Community Disaster Volunteer (ACDV) Ordinance," Benguet’s capital town is set to welcome more volunteers.
Approved in 2015, the ordinance aims to strengthen the implementation of risk reduction in the town as mandated by the Local Government Code and Philippine Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 through the accreditation, mobilization and protection of disaster volunteers and other entities who are dedicated to provide their fee services in times of disasters or calamities.
At least 107 local and seven international volunteers were already accredited by the town.
Mayor Romeo Salda said volunteers in the town are from various groups and individuals from different walks of life.
"All tanods, barangay peace and action teams, schools and non - government agencies are accredited and yearly, the number of volunteers increase," Salda added.
Yoshio Labi, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO), added that individual volunteers accreditation are conducted at the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office while groups are being accredited by the Municipal Council.
Labi added aside from disasters and calamities, the volunteers are also tapped during activities including festivals and sports events.
"Anyone are welcome to be a volunteer," he disclosed.
Volunteers in the Benguet town are tasked to share and help in the improving their skills, knowledge and talents to share it to the community and are tasked based on their capabilities such as medics among others.
Under the ACDV, volunteers are allocated funds for the individual personal accident insurance coverage per ACDV.
In the past, the ACDV are also regional winners of the search of outstanding volunteers in Cordillera.
This year, the town was awarded in the concluded Search for Outstanding Volunteers 2019 in the municipal level.
The ward was concurred by the Philippine Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency and the National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency under National Economic Development Authority.