Construction and Renovation Volunteer Project in the Philippines - Palawan
Excited to build a brighter future as a Construction and Renovation volunteer in the Philippines? International Volunteer HQ’s Construction and Renovation project enables volunteers to assist with building and maintenance tasks at local schools and medical centres. Volunteers gain construction and renovation experience while helping to upgrade and improve these facilities so they are safer, more useful and more attractive for the people they serve.
Highlights:
- Programs start every Monday
- Affordable fees from AU$612 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Use your hands to upgrade and improve community facilities
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Discover the incredible natural beauty of the Philippines
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Stay with other volunteers near the beach in Tigman Village, Palawan
Who is this program suited to?
Key information
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Medical centres daycares and schools all perform important community services, but many in under-resourced communities in the Philippines find it hard to keep up with building maintenance. Volunteers make a meaningful impact by helping to beautify and maintain these spaces so they’re attractive and functional for members of the community to use.
As a Construction and Renovation volunteer, you’ll help with light building work around Palawan. The project is set up so you’ll spend time contributing to tasks that are in the most urgent need for assistance at the time. That means you’re likely to help on a number of different sites during your time volunteering. A flexible approach to working wherever your help is required will help you to add the most value as a volunteer. Volunteer duties vary but can include:
- Renovations
- Interior and exterior painting
- Restoration and repairs
- Carpentry
- Landscaping
Why do Construction and Renovation volunteering in Palawan with IVHQ?
As a volunteer builder in the Philippines you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving infrastructure for local communities
- Seeing the physical results of your volunteer work
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining construction and renovation experience
- Immersing yourself in Filippino culture
- Exploring the island of Palawan
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Philippines photo gallery
”I’ve always wanted to do something for the Philippines, to be able to help and contribute. So, I chose to do the Construction & Renovation project and it gave me the opportunity to help build (at least the floor) of this classroom-sized school in a village for children aged 3 - 5 years old. I was only there for 2 weeks but I'm glad I did this & I'm happy I could make a small small difference in these kids life. Thank you IVHQ for this amazing opportunity and experience.”
Isabel, Filipino, 24
Read reviews from Construction and Renovation volunteers in Palawan
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Location
Set in the western Pacific ocean, the Philippines is a collection of incredible islands that are home to nearly 110 million people known for their friendly smiles. With a multicultural population and a newly industrialized economy, cities in the Philippines have been making great strides towards reducing poverty. However, in the country’s more remote areas low-income communities still struggle to access basic necessities like healthcare and education. Volunteers are valued in these areas for the help they provide to local schools, community services and initiatives that aim to improve the quality of life for those outside the main centres.
IVHQ’s Philippines program is set in the Arborlan District on Palawan - an island often considered one of the most beautiful in the world. With turquoise waters lapping at the edges of white sandy beaches, breathtaking scenery, UNESCO World Heritage sites and world-class diving spots, it’s a coastal paradise to rival any place you could dream of. Volunteers will stay near the remote Tigman Village on the east coast of Palawan.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation is held every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Palawan on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) between 10am and 5pm. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Tigman Village. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are travelling in the Philippines prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Puerto Princesa on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation in the Philippines, a One-Day Orientation and an Introduction Week.
The One-Day Orientation: This begins on your selected start date and all volunteers will attend. It covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in the Philippines, including an introduction to the IVHQ Philippines program, the local team, general rules and a class on the local culture and language. In the afternoon, you’ll learn about the projects, take a walking tour of the local area and arrange your SIM card. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.
Introduction Week: The Introduction Week begins on your selected start date and your volunteer program will commence the following week. The Introduction Week is very popular among IVHQ volunteers. We recommend all volunteers take advantage of this week to gain a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture, a true appreciation of life in the Philippines and bond with fellow volunteers while also taking a cooking class, visiting a farm and touring local attractions. It’s also a great way to help settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in the Philippines. The Introduction Week in the Philippines does incur an additional US$20 (approximately AU$30) surcharge to cover the additional costs.
If you wish to participate in the Introduction Week, you can indicate your interest in this option on your application form when you apply for the program or you can let your Program Manager know once you’ve been accepted on the program.
Volunteer schedule example
Weekdays: After the initial orientation week, you will work for approximately 3 to 6 hours per day, depending on the project and your placement. A typical schedule is as follows:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast with fellow volunteers. |
| 9:00 - 11:30 AM | Volunteers work at their placements. |
| 11:30 AM | Volunteers break for lunch. If volunteers are unable to return to the volunteer accommodation, they will be given a packed lunch. |
| 1:30 - 2:00 PM | Work at the placement resumes (except Kindergarten volunteers, who use their afternoons to prepare for the following day) |
| 3:30 - 4:00 PM | Work ends and volunteers have free time to explore the local area. |
| 5:00 - 6:00 PM | Dinner with fellow volunteers. |
Weekends: Volunteers have weekends free to relax and explore Palawan and the Philippines. In Tigman Village, the closest place to your accommodation, you can visit the colourful daily local markets and shop for fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, clothes and street food. You’ll also be able to step out the door of the volunteer accommodation and onto the beach for a swim.
As well as this, there’s a stunning number of things to do further afield in Palawan. This incredible island is known for its natural beauty, exotic and endangered wildlife and having a wide range of interesting things to see and explore. You could find yourself battling frothy rapids while white-water rafting, island-hopping to visit the picturesque spots at El Nido where major Hollywood movies were filmed, wandering the length of one of the world’s longest beaches, cruising down an underground river or relaxing poolside with a cool drink in hand.
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll stay in dormitory-style accommodation in Tigman Village. Volunteers should expect to share a room with up to seven other volunteers of the same gender. The accommodation has air-conditioning in the bedrooms. Bedding is provided and includes a bottom sheet, thin blanket and a pillow.
There is a shared bathroom with western toilets and bucket showers with cold tap water, which are nice and refreshing in the hot weather. A fridge is available to store your personal food items and there is an area for hand-washing laundry.
For those volunteers wanting more comfortable accommodation or a private room, accommodation upgrades can sometimes be arranged. As this is not always available, it needs to be discussed with the local team directly once you arrive. Please note that if you choose to upgrade, this will most likely be at a nearby resort at an additional cost to yourself and won’t result in a reduction of your program fees. Volunteers can expect to pay approximately PHP2000 (US$40 (approximately AU$60)) per night for private accommodation.
Given the remote island location, internet and phone reception at the accommodation is limited and often non-existent. There may be 3G WiFi dongles for volunteers to connect to, but you shouldn’t expect to have the same connection speed that you are used to at home. There is better reception and internet available from some of the nearby villages (a 10 to 15 minute drive from the volunteer accommodation), or in Puerto Princesa City (a 60 to 90 minute drive). We recommend bringing an unlocked mobile phone and purchasing a local SIM card with data when you arrive in the Philippines. You can then use this to access the internet in the nearby villages.
Meals
Volunteers are served breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays with just two meals provided on weekends. Breakfast consists of bread and spreads with tea or coffee, while lunch and dinner are local Filipino cuisine. Rice is a staple in the Philippines and most meals will include a portion of rice, accompanied by two or more dishes which will be a combination of vegetables, meat or seafood cooked in local spices and sauces.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
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|---|---|
| 1 week | AU$607 Equivalent to AU$87/day |
| 2 weeks | AU$910 Equivalent to AU$65/day |
| 3 weeks | AU$1273 Equivalent to AU$61/day |
| 4 weeks | AU$1607 Equivalent to AU$58/day |
| 5 weeks | AU$1940 Equivalent to AU$56/day |
| 6 weeks | AU$2273 Equivalent to AU$55/day |
| 8 weeks | AU$2939 Equivalent to AU$53/day |
| 10 weeks | AU$3605 Equivalent to AU$52/day |
| 12 weeks | AU$4271 Equivalent to AU$51/day |
| 16 weeks | AU$5604 Equivalent to AU$51/day |
| 20 weeks | AU$6936 Equivalent to AU$50/day |
| 24 weeks | AU$8269 Equivalent to AU$50/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteering
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of AU$452 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Philippines generally find US$30-50 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
Check what's required to visit Philippines
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Protecting against COVID-19:
Volunteers tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel
Health & safety information provided during orientation
Strict disinfecting standards for programs & accomodation
Greater physical distance between volunteers
Essential country information
| Capital | Manila |
| Population | 108 million |
| Languages | Filipino, English |
| Currency | Philippine Peso (PHP) |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
Weather and climate: The Philippines has a hot and humid climate all year round, with average temperatures between 25°C and 28°C (77°F to 83°F). The hottest months are April through to May, where the average temperature sits above 30°C (86°F). The dry season runs from January through to June. The wet season runs from July through to December.
