Today, we were sworn into the US Peace Corps by the US Ambassador to the Philippines. All Peace Corps staff attended the ceremony as did a few current PCVs. Yesterday, we finally met up with our host country counterparts. I had a delegation of 5 municipal representatives travel to Manila to meet me. I understand that I am the first Peace Corps presence in my municipality for as long as anyone can remember. Of all the PCRVs sworn in today, not only did I have the largest delegation, but I was also the only PCRV whose Mayor attended the ceremony! This is important because it is a strong sign that my municipality is serious, not only about the work I will do, but also about their relationship with the Peace Corps itself. Of course, that brings with it a bit of pressure as well for me to deliver.
I am told that our first challenge will be to develop a redevelopment plan that will essentially relocate 2 communities out of a "danger zone". These communities will serve as a model for 16 other communities also in harms way. The baranguays (lowest level government unit) each consist of about 1500 people and they all live within a few yards of the sea. Typhoon after typhoon wrecks these beachside homes and they simply rebuild in the same places again and again. This is obviously both dangerous and inefficient. The issue is complicated by the fact that these folks primarily make a living as private fishermen. Relocation will need to have an education component to teach a new profession. Right now, that profession looks like chicken farming, so I might have to learn a bit about that in the coming months. And then there is the matter of land purchase, home building, utility installation, schools, churches, etc, etc, that will be necessary to make the communities whole again. It does look as if there is funding available to the municipal government to begin this effort, so that is very encouraging and there is also an NGO presence in play that seems to be providing financial resources to make this happen on an ongoing basis as well. Isn't it interesting how quickly a disaster redevelopment plan can reach into every aspect of community life?
So, it is an exciting time. All of the PCRVs are quite ready to leave Manila and we all wake early tomorrow to begin our journeys. Of course, there is sadness too, as we have formed friendships in the past ten days and there is a great likelihood that we won't see each other again until our close of service (COS).
Speaking COS, there are around 50 or so PCVs leaving the Philippines this week so there is a lot of excitement about that as well. There is a bell in the PC office that the departing PCV is allowed to strike three times whenever they are ready to leave country and visit the PC office one last time. The bell rings over the loud speaker and that its a sad note to be sure.
I will say this, to a person each PVRV is looking forward to get on with the program and get the heck out of Manila which is, according to Wikipedia, the most densely populated city in the world. When Jean and I lived in Antigua so many years ago, we learned a saying that is said whenever things start getting a little crowded - 'des people like peas!' Well, with all due respect to my former host country, Manila takes crowding to a completely new level. Very soon, the sounds of traffic will be replaced by the sounds of goats and chickens, and the smell of diesel will be replaced by the smell of the salt air. I am ready for this next chapter!
No comments:
Post a Comment