Leyte VG happy on Philippines, Israel tie-up

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, home after a five-day official travel to Tel Aviv in Israel, expressed high hopes that the Israeli technologies showed to visiting delegates there, will be replicated in the Philippines for sustainable development, especially in agriculture and industry.

Loreto–who represented Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla in the Israel–government sponsored amity tour to Tel Aviv–said the Philippines and Israel shared a deep history, brotherhood, and friendship that dated back to 1937 when only the Philippines welcomed the Jewish refugees being persecuted by the Nazis in Israel.

In 1947, the Philippines was the only nation that voted for the statehood of Israel during the deliberation in the United Nations.

Many students from the then Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA) in Baybay City of Leyte–Loreto's hometown–were trained and schooled as scholars in Israel and eventually found job abroad, said the vice governor.

Loreto however regretted that Leyte province failed to tap the capabilities and technical know-how of the on-the-job trainees in Israel in the aspect of agriculture and economics.

This, he said, was the reason why the governors were invited by Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau to enable them to see Israel's situation and renew ties with the Israeli people and its government.

Loreto said there was plan to invite Israeli experts on agriculture and economics to Leyte but details of it are being worked out yet.

One advanced technology of  Israel that impressed him most was its ability to plant and produce crops in the desert where people need to dig a kilometer-deep into the ground to get water. Leyte could learn how the Israelis maximize the use of water with the technology to enhance the environment, said Loreto.

"We can use their practices and discipline in all our areas," Loreto said, noting the poor production in farms due to lack of irrigation. (FREEMAN)