The US Peace Corps welcomed 54 new volunteers to Manila on 6 July as the agency celebrates its 65th anniversary of service in the Philippines.

The arrival of the 49 standard volunteers and five specialized response volunteers coincides with other major milestones in 2026, including the 80th anniversary of US-Philippine diplomatic relations and the 250th anniversary of US independence.

“For 65 years, Peace Corps volunteers have lived and worked hand in hand with Filipinos, contributing to shared goals in education, environmental protection, and youth empowerment,” Marguerite Roy, the agency’s country director for the Philippines, said.

“We are excited to see how this newest group will learn from their host communities while contributing their own skills and experiences,” she added.

The 49 new volunteers, representing the 283rd batch deployed to the country, will serve two-year assignments.

They are scheduled to co-teach English in public schools, facilitate programs at youth centers managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and support coastal resource management initiatives alongside local governments.

Officials said the volunteers will integrate into their host communities, learn local languages, and implement projects addressing locally identified needs.

Meanwhile, the five highly skilled response volunteers will serve shorter terms ranging from six to 12 months. They are tasked with specialized assignments in disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and environmental programming designed to strengthen the capacity of local governments and higher education institutions.

The Philippines hosts the second-oldest US Peace Corps program in the world. Since its establishment in 1961 during the presidency of John F. Kennedy, more than 9,700 Americans have served in the country to support local community and government development priorities.