Philippine welcomes new batch of US peace corps volunteers

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has welcomed the arrival of 55 peace corps volunteers from the United States who will work as teachers and community leaders in different areas of the country.

The US embassy yesterday said the new batch included 48 peace corps and seven short-term response volunteers who will help their Filipino partners implement programs promoting education, youth development and natural resource management in Luzon and the Visayas.

The embassy said the arrival of the new batch brought the total number of American peace corps volunteers in the country to 140, the largest to serve the Philippines since 2020.

The 48 volunteers will serve host communities for two years. They will teach English in public elementary and secondary schools, facilitate youth development programs in organizations accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and help local government units establish marine protected areas and strengthen coastal resource management.

The embassy said the seven response volunteers would carry out specialized, short-term assignments, along with members of government agencies and non-government organizations for seven to 12 months.

Peace Corps Philippines country director Marguerite Roy said the volunteers’ arrival symbolized the US’ renewed momentum since the pandemic.

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency chief James Gawe is confident that the new set of volunteers would serve as builders of hope and catalysts of change.