The Project Local Initiatives for Normative Governance and Kapwa-Driven Organizing for Development (LINGKOD) aims to propose a volunteerism framework for the Province of Nueva Vizcaya. Recognizing the role of volunteerism in economic development, this project kicked off with the conduct of the research, which was then disseminated for validation of findings with stakeholders during the Barangay Council sessions of the participating barangays on March 4 and 5, and to the Provincial Local Government of Nueva Vizcaya through the Provincial Administrators’ Office on March 10, 2026. The dissemination was conducted to gather stakeholder feedback and enhance the framework for volunteerism.

The research, entitled “Who Volunteers for What? Demystifying the Particularities of Volunteerism in the Pursuit of Economic Development,” examined the motivation to volunteer and its significant relationship with respondents’ demographic variables. It determined the alignment of volunteers’ engagement activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and estimated the economic value of volunteerism, with the goal of crafting a developmental framework to institutionalize volunteerism in Nueva Vizcaya. 

The developmental framework, called Nueva Vizcaya Sustainable Volunteerism Framework, envisions a resilient and empowered province where volunteerism is socio-culturally responsive, inclusive, and transformative. Guided by the core values of Nurturance, Voluntariness, Solidarity, Virtuous Integrity, and Fidelity, the framework shall mobilize, capacitate, and sustain volunteers who are responsive to socio-cultural, economic, ecological, and governance development needs of the province. It is also based on the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, Ambisyon Natin 2040, the Volunteer Act of 2007, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Project LINGKOD engagement was participated in by officials and offices at the provincial level – PAO, DSWDO, PLYPDO, PDRRMO, PIHO, and the PAIADO. It is expected that this engagement shall strengthen volunteerism initiatives, further support community-driven development, and provide a framework for local policy and programs. 

This project was composed of researchers Dr. Christopher Allen S. Marquez, Mr. Domingo T. Guntalilib, Dr. Luther F. Castillo, Mr. Ramel Salon, and Mr. Elson Boie Tumaneng. It was a collaborative project among the three higher education institutions in the Nueva Vizcaya – Saint Mary’s University, Nueva Vizcaya State University Bayombong and Bambang Campuses, and Purisimo L. Tiam College, Inc.