Last June 6, 2019, the UP Open University (UPOU) set up its own Office of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód with its newly appointed Director, Rhonna Marie R. Vereña. The Office of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód is the official volunteer service program of the university.

As a newly established office, it aims to “bring the spirit of volunteerism in the university,” Director Vereña said. The office has lined up programs that are planned to be implemented within the year. Among these programs are Teacher Training Program, Gurong Pahinungód, and Tutorial Services Program. Currently, the office is looking at the existing partners, available resources, and profiles of current students and alumni of UPOU.

The office was established as part of Revitalizing the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Systemwide plan of the Task Force Pahinungód 2019. The said Task Force recommends the reactivation of the Pahinungód Offices especially in College Units (CUs) where there are none. The mission statement of the systemwide Ugnayan ng Pahinungód is “to make the University a more caring academic community that is bound together by a commitment to the empowerment of people and selfless service to the nation”. In UPOU, the Office of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód is under the Office of the Chancellor.