WHEREAS , volunteerism continues to be a cultural tradition upheld and practiced by the Filipinos, generation: permeating the national psyche with humanitarian values;

WHEREAS , the Government recognizes the contributions of the volunteer sector in nation building the thus, provides legal framework to create an enabling environment for the promotion and strengthening of volunteerism in the country and for honoring the volunteers;

WHEREAS , the Philippines strongly supports local, national and international in initiatives  that further the adoption and practice of volunteerism, among them: the UN declaration of 5 December as International Volunteer Day adopted in the Philippines through Proclamation No. 194 issued on 7 December 1987, National Volunteer Month every December per Proclamation No. 55 dated December 5, 1998, and year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers declared by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1997 and actively celebrated in the Philippines;

WHEREAS , year 2011 is the 10th anniversary of International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) and the UN-member countries are all enjoined to highlight the celebration of the event with such activities and programs that would heighten awareness and appreciation of volunteerism and make it a useful instrument for achieving the 8-fold Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), along the global theme œVolunteering for the MDGs .

WHEREAS , the declaration of IYV+10 celebration is an acknowledgement of the important role of the voluntary sectors and stakeholders and serve as a significant milestone in the promotion, networking, facilitation and recognition of volunteer practitioners and supporters;

WHEREAS , Government support to the event would enable and encourage greater participation from the public, private, business and civil society sectors, and demonstrate active commitment to the promotion of volunteerism nationally and internationally;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the year 2011 as 10th Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) in the Philippines, in support of the global theme œVolunteering for the MDGs , and designate the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) as the focal agency for the celebration of this event in the Philippines.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 10th day of January in the year of our Lord, Twenty Hundred and Eleven.

	(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary