March 29, 2024

The Regional Development Council recognized winners of the Cordillera’s Search for Outstanding Volunteer (SOV) 2022 during its first qurater full council meeting on March 9.
For the Individual Youth Category, regional awardee is Carmen Malabong of Ambasing, Sagada, Mountain Province. She is engaged in various outreach activities and in organizing youth leadership summits in different areas of Mountain Province.
A Bachelor of Science in Development Communication student at the Benguet State University, Malabong authored a book entitled “Footsteps” the proceeds of which she uses to fund her outreach activities.
Assistant Professor 1 Paul Joseph A. Nuval of Benguet State University is the winner for the SOV Individual Adult Category.
Nuval conducted donation drives and relief operations in disaster-stricken areas and provided voluntary and expert services to different government institutions and universities. He also provided educational assistance to students of BSU Buguias campus.
Another regional awardee is the Project 360 Organization Inc. of Virac in Itogon, Benguet for the Organization-Non-Profit Category.
The organization conducted gift-giving activities like school supplies to different schools the region and provided financial assistance to cover parent-teacher association fees and scholarships to selected students.  It also adopted a day care center which it regularly provided with school supplies and equipment.
For the Organization-Corporation Category, regional awardee is the Breastfeeding Care Center of the North with office in Baguio City.
Founded by Jocelyn Sagubo and Anne May Mendoza, the group provided voluntary services as resource speaker on breastfeeding awareness, lactation management training and maternal infant and young child feeding to the Department of Social Welfare and Development Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, barangays, and hospitals.
RDC-CAR Co-chairperson Edna Tabanda and vice chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Susan Sumbelling led other RDC sectoral committee officials in awarding the plaques of recognition to the awardees.
The SOV is an annual undertaking of the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency in partnership with NEDA regional offices. 
The search aims to recognize outstanding Filipino volunteers, individuals or organizations, for their exemplary performance and achievements in empowering communities and in promoting a culture of volunteerism. – Carlito Dar