Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. warmly received Her Excellency Dana Kursh, Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines, during her courtesy visit this afternoon at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
The Ambassador was joined by Consul Moti Cohen and MASHAV Officer Richelle Maulion.
Accompanying the governor in hosting Her Excellency are Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Provincial Tourism Officer and LEDIP Center Chief Aulynn Yue Sin, and Provincial Planning Office acting head Jigger Labergue.
The meeting centered on forging stronger cultural and economic ties, particularly on technological advancement. Governor Defensor highlighted the province’s interest in foreign investment for drone development and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to bolster disaster response capabilities and make the province more investor-friendly.
Ambassador Kursh committed to bridge the province with potential Israeli investors in these sectors.
Meanwhile, the Governor presented his flagship socialized housing program “Purok Resilience” which aims to provide climate-resilient homes for Ilonggos in high-risk areas.
The two further discussed the current geopolitical tension in the Middle East, with Governor Defensor expressing his gratitude to the Israeli government for keeping the Filipinos, particularly the OFWs, safe.
On a personal note, Defensor revealed that he has long admired Israel, calling it his "idol country," and shared his interest in its history since his student days.
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