The government plans to create a National Volunteer Service Corps that will provide assistance to poor Filipinos struggling from the impact of the global financial crisis, Malacanang said Sunday.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo has started to meet with various civic organizations, professional groups, and business chambers to solicit their volunteer work for the country.

Remonde said there is a need to consolidate public service programs offered by the private sector to ensure wider reach to less fortunate people across the country. Among the civic groups offering public service projects are the Kiwanis International, Rotary International, Lions, and Jaycees, according to Remonde.

“Tinitingnan ng gobyerno na baka mas maging epektibo at maraming matutulungan itong mga civic organizations in partnership with government. Parang magkakaroon tayo ng isang National Volunteer Service Corps,” he said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Remonde said the national volunteer group would coordinate the initiatives of civic and business groups that are wiling to provide service to the poor without anything in return.

“We are naturally helpful and compassionate of our less fortunate brothers. There is a vast resource of volunteerism that we can tap to help the less brethren especially that we are a Christian country. We know that an important Christian principle is helping the less fortunate,” he said.

The President earlier called for a “new age of volunteerism” to combat the adverse effects of the world financial downturn. She said people could help recycle garbage, plant trees, set up “food banks” wherein spare food from restaurants will be set aside for the poor, and teach the elderly how to read and write, among others.

Remonde said the President’s call for volunteerism to face the global economic crisis was patterned after the call of then United States President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

“People’s volunteerism could contribute in helping one rise above any challenges besetting a nation,” he said.

On the part of the government, Remonde said they will continue with the emergency employment programs to generate nearly one million jobs for Filipinos during these hard economic times. Subsidies on fuel, food, and rice will also be sustained to ease the burden of the Filipino poor.

He said the Philippines has so far weathered the global financial recession due to the early tough fiscal reforms implemented by the President. he said the government has prepared the economic resiliency program to fast track infrastructure, social services, and create more jobs for the people.