Philippines welcomes new batch of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers

On July 14, the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippines welcomed 48 American volunteers and seven short-term response volunteers in Manila who will serve alongside Filipino partners in education, youth development, and natural resource management programs across Luzon and the Visayas.

Their arrival brings the total number of Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in the country to 140 — the largest cohort since 2020.

The 48 new two-year volunteers will be deployed to host communities to co-teach English in public elementary and secondary schools, facilitate youth development programs in Department of Social Welfare and Development-accredited organizations and shelters, and assist local governments in establishing marine protected areas and improving coastal resource management.

The seven response volunteers will take on specialized, short-term assignments — typically lasting seven to 12 months — with government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

These professionals will support high-impact projects in disaster risk reduction, solid waste management, and education.

The volunteers will be assigned to the following provinces: Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, and Leyte.

Before deployment, they will undergo 11 weeks of language, technical, and cultural training.

“I am pleased to welcome our newest volunteers to the Philippines. Their joint arrival symbolizes our renewed momentum since the pandemic and reflects our deepening collaboration with local partner institutions and Filipino communities,” said Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Marguerite Roy.

“I look forward to seeing how each volunteer will build meaningful relationships and contribute to community-led initiatives throughout their service.”

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency Executive Director Donald James Gawe also expressed optimism about the impact of the new volunteers.

“Thank you for choosing the Philippines for your volunteer work. I wish you success and trust that your batch will have a meaningful volunteering experience and reach a 100% completion rate,” he said.

The new arrivals, aged 22 to 67, make up the 282nd batch of Peace Corps volunteers and the 55th batch of response volunteers deployed to the Philippines at the government’s invitation.

They bring diverse experiences, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to learning from Filipino communities and contributing to locally led development.

The Philippines is home to the second-oldest U.S. Peace Corps program in the world.

Since 1961, more than 9,500 Americans have served in the country, supporting national and community development priorities.