BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC) here cited five individuals and groups in the region for their exemplary display of voluntarism which greatly contributed in saving lives and helping people who are in distress over the past several years.

The local awardees are automatically qualified to be the entries of the region in the National Outstanding Volunteer Award (NOVA) and Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award (VLAA).

Hilario R. Villanueva, an employee of Philex Mining Corporation, was recognized as the regional winner for the NOVA individual category, while the Kiddie Brigade program of Barangay Salud Mitra, this city, and the Baguio-Benguet Public Information and Civic Action Group (BBPICAG) garnered the NOVA non-profit organization category regional award.

The Philex Mining Corporation, which is based in Padcal, Tuba, Benguet, was adjudged the regional winner for the NOVA corporate category. The mining company has been always in the limelight of search, rescue and retrieval operations in disaster-stricken areas nationwide because of the existence of its elite rescue team.

Joel S. Son, safety engineer of the Philex Mining Corporation, was cited as the VLAA individual category because of his exemplary display of efficiency and effectiveness in discharging his sworn duties and responsibilities, especially in activities outside his corporate functions.

At the same time, Philex Mining Corporation also garnered the region’s award for the VLAA organization category.

The search for outstanding volunteers aims to highlight and recognize the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in building strong communities across the country through voluntarism.

The qualified participants to the search should have consistently provided volunteer assistance and services for at least five years for non-profit organizations and at least three years for corporate organizations.