Israeli training to push through

CEBU, Philippines - The trainings on disaster preparedness to be conducted by Israeli in Cebu would still push through even with the closure of its embassy in Manila.

Task Force Paglig-on head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the closure of the Israeli Embassy will not affect the rehabilitation efforts in the typhoon-stricken areas in northern Cebu.

He said the secretary of the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines phoned in and informed him Thursday that the government-sponsored  training on disaster preparedness in the province would push through next month.

“Way kausaban, as is lang gihapon… Probably inig human sa Holy Week, manawag sila. Malangan-langan lang siguro sila tungod sa nahitabo. Maghuwat lang ta unsa gyod ang specific date sa month sa April,” he said.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has expressed concern about the development.

“Nagsabot na (Cebu and the Israeli Embassy) nga magpada og expert from Israel to conduct trainings on disaster (to be attended by) training officers in the province. The program starts on April. If it’s true, sayang jud,” Davide said.

Davide said he has yet to receive communications  if the plan will push through or not, but said he will contact the embassy to find it out.

“Usik ba, daghan natabang ang Israel diri during the typhoon,” he said adding that the embassy has also entered into a memorandum of agreement for the series of trainings along with other private groups.

Business groups, non-government organizations, members of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard are expected to participate in the workshop to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Health of Israel.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila made the announcement Monday about the closure. This has occurred for the first time in the history of the state of Israel.

Following the closure, the preparation of important agreements between the nations was reportedly halted.

The shutting down of Israel’s embassy in the Philippines, according to the diplomats themselves, was because of their government’s failure to give them higher wages and better compensation. —/GMR (FREEMAN)