The University of Rizal System (URS) through the recommendation of the Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative, Incorporated (ATIKHA) has recently been awarded the BalikaBayanihan Award by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA).
The PNVSCA is the government agency mandated to promote volunteerism and coordinate the volunteer service program in the Philippines. PNVSCA closely works with other government agencies, non-government organizations, the academe, the corporate group, the media and other partners in converging and linking the different volunteering efforts and resources so that they are aligned with national priorities and assist especially the marginalized sectors and communities. PNVSCA takes the lead in advocating and recognizing the contributions of volunteers and international cooperation.
ATIKHA is a non-governmental organization that provides economic and social services to overseas Filipinos and their families in the Philippines.
The organization has recommended URS as the outstanding partner of the BalikaBayanihan Campaign for extending technical support to the returning and displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) during this period of the pandemic.
The award is in recognition of URS as a proponent of the webinar on starting a business for OFWs and their families, which preceded other seminars on business plan development, business coaching and mentoring. The webinars and coaching have been given free by the URS – Binangonan Campus in the person of Dr. Eden Santos, campus director; Dr. Joanne Sabiniano, dean of the College of Business (COB); and, Prof. Grenelita Felipe, Prof. Jeffrey Azor and Prof. Myra Salindong, professors at the COB.
The awarding rites were held on December 18, 2020 via Zoom. Dr. Nancy Pascual, president of URS, received the award. Other partner awardees are the Province of Iloilo Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Tarlac Provincial Cooperation and Enterprise Development Office, Cavite Migration Development Office, Laguna PESO, Batangas Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Quezon Provincial Gender and Development Office, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation, Pinoywise – Hongkong, Pinoywise – Singapore, Pinoywise – Qatar and the Associazione Cutturale Filippina del Pizmonte – Italy.
The PNSVA, an arm of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), has worked with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA), the National Reintegration Center for OFWs and ATIKHA to award these outstanding partners. // abc
