DSWD sees re-entry of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in September


The U.S. Peace Corps volunteers may soon be deployed to the Philippines to help build better lives for poor communities in the country.

(Screenshot from DSWD website)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Monday, July 19, that U.S. Peace Corps-Philippines, led by newly appointed U.S. Peace Corps Country Director Jenner Edelman will pay a courtesy call on Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista over a video conference on Wednesday, July 21.

“With this courtesy call, the reinforcement and re-entry of limited number of two-year and short-term Peace Corps Response Volunteers in the Philippines is targeted in September 2021,” the DSWD said in a statement on Monday.

Due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the operation of the volunteers was temporarily put to a halt, it noted.

The courtesy call will be hosted by DSWD through its Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau. It will be attended by other program managers, directors, and staff of the U.S. Peace Corps.

During the event, Bautista is set to deliver a speech to highlight the DSWD’s engagements with the U.S. Peace Corps in empowering the vulnerable sectors in the country.

“For 18 years now, the Children, Youth, and Family or CYF volunteers of the Peace Corps have been deployed in the different DSWD residential and non-residential care facilities, social welfare agencies, and non-government organizations across the country,” the DSWD cited.

“These volunteers have played essential roles as mentors, tutors, co-facilitators, advisors, and coaches in basic literacy, life skills training, livelihood skills training, and staff development,” it added.

The DSWD said it is committed to further strengthen partnership with the U.S. Peace Corps in serving and providing inclusive services and programs for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized families and communities.

The social welfare department together with the U.S. Peace Corps, remained true to their commitment "to provide support to at-risk individuals and communities and to promote human development."