Israel and the Philippines are exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, food security, and disaster preparedness to help communities cope with the projected impacts of El Niño, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh said.
Kursh said her visit to the Bicol Region aims to meet local leaders, understand the region’s opportunities and challenges, and identify areas where Israeli and Filipino partners can work together.
“You can see it in Manila and try to connect from there, but there’s nothing like going to see it for yourself,” she said.
During her visit, Kursh met with Albay Governor Noel Rosal, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, and Bicol University President Dr. Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III to learn about local initiatives and explore ways to strengthen partnerships.
Kursh said she was impressed by the dedication of Bicol leaders to protecting their constituents from natural calamities and cited BU’s KUGOS Leadership concept as an example of embracing communities and partnerships.
She said the Philippines’ exposure to natural disasters highlights the importance of international cooperation and knowledge-sharing to help communities prepare for future emergencies.
“But I came here first to listen and to learn and to identify together what can we do together. Agriculture is the future, we need food security, and it’s also connected to disaster,” she added.
Kursh said Israel would hold a fully funded international course in December on establishing community resilience structures for coping with disasters, expressing hope that a representative from Bicol could participate.
She said her visit also aims to determine how Israeli expertise can complement local efforts to prepare for the projected El Niño and address other challenges, including dengue.
“What I’m trying to do in this visit is to see how much the leadership of Bicol, the governor, the mayors, and the people are resilient, and try to really prepare themselves for the worst, if El Niño is projected,” Kursh said.
She said agricultural technology and irrigation are among the areas where Israeli and Filipino partners are already working together to support farmers and strengthen food production.
She cited solar-powered irrigation pumps introduced through partnerships involving Israeli technology providers, Filipino partners, and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), which help provide water for agricultural lands.
Water management is another area of cooperation, she said, citing wastewater treatment initiatives that clean water before it is returned to the sea to help prevent marine pollution.
Kursh said her visit also serves as a scouting mission to identify potential business opportunities in Bicol that she can share with Israeli entrepreneurs.
“I will share back home with Israeli businessmen and women about the opportunities that I see in here,” she said.
Kursh said the Israeli Embassy would continue identifying potential areas for cooperation and sharing the opportunities she discovers during her visit with her team and headquarters in Israel.
She also cited plans to engage with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and NIA on food security, including a seminar on securing food supplies despite the effects of climate change and natural disasters.
“We are going to do a seminar on food security: how can we secure food despite the calamity impact of different climate change and disasters that are being caused,” she added.
Kursh further said capacity-building activities could help representatives from Naga City and other parts of Bicol participate in training on strengthening community resilience against climate-related impacts.
She expressed hope that the region could prepare adequately for El Niño and lessen its effects on farmers and communities.
“The best way is to prepare for this El Niño and its impact,” she added. (PNA)
