Peace Corps deploys volunteer to Samar’s capital

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov. 20 PNA) – The United States-led Peace Corps has deployed a volunteer to this city to help in the local marine research and preservation efforts for two years.

Earlier, the city government here applied to the Peace Corps program, seeking a volunteer to assist in the protection of marine resources and restore fish catch that have dwindled over the past years.

“We thank the Peace Corps for extending hand to us to fill in the spaces and needs of our city, 

especially technical and technological aspects,” said Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan.

Coastal Resource Management is one of the five areas being offered by the Peace Corps in their two-year program that integrates American citizens to share their expertise with the community they choose to serve with.

Uy-Tan said that marine biologist Melissa Gonzalez has started working in the city since last week for a two-year mission.

Her assignment requires to work within the context of the Philippine National Strategy of Integrated Coastal Management, which aims for sustainable development of coastal areas and for the improvement of quality of life of coastal populations.

As volunteer, she is expected to encourage local participation in all aspects of decision-making.

“This means that she needs to engage with fishing communities, including the local government and other partners such as schools, non-government organizations and community-based organizations. 

She will work with these groups to mainstream and institutionalize best practices in conservation and sustainable fisheries,” Uy-Tan explained.

The volunteer will also provide technical assistance like capacity building, institutional strengthening, policy development, marine protection, alliance building, environmental education, community organization and sustainable financing mechanisms.

The Peace Corps is a volunteer program run by the United States government providing technical assistance, helping people outside the US to understand American culture, and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries.

Their work is generally related to social and economic development where they will work abroad for a period of two years after three months of training.

Volunteers work with governments, schools, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, and entrepreneurs in education, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment.

Currently, there are 176 Peace Corps volunteers are in the Philippines and 8,975 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in the Philippines since the program was established in 1961. (PNA)

SCS/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR