News Details

DILG, Israeli agri group strike deal to spur Philippine food security

NPO

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April 5, 2024

MANILA BULLETIN

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday, April 5, that it has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an Israeli agricultural center that will provide intensive training and education to selected local agriculture students on modern food security solutions.

The MOU was signed by DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and AgroStudies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yaron Tamir at Camp Crame in Quezon City. AgroStudies is an international training center which provides a program for agricultural education in Israel to interns from developing countries around the world.

Based on the MOU, the DILG will collaborate with local government units (LGUs) in the selection of eligible students to participate in the 11-month AgroStudies program in Israel, focusing on various aspects of agriculture, including crop cultivation, livestock management, and agricultural technology. 

The Philippines is the first partner-country of Israel over the last 20 years in the AgroStudies internship program, which has produced some 8,000 Filipinos as scholars, the largest among 15 partner-countries.

During the MOU signing, Abalos thanked the Israel Embassy and the AgroStudies for their friendship and partnership, as the agreement is seen to significantly boost President Marcos’ vision of ensuring food security under the "Bagong Pilipinas" brand of governance.

“We thank our partners for this continuous partnership of you transferring the technology and best practices to our Filipino farmers,” Abalos said.  

Abalos also commended the partner national government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Security Council (NSC) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for their equal commitment to pushing forth the said program.

The DILG chief also cited the DILG’s "Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay" (HAPAG) Program, which complements the national government’s food security measures, and the "KADIWA ng Pangulo" program, which provides access to quality and safe food items at affordable prices.