Honorary Consul Jorge Narciso Marquez unveiling the marker of Honorary Consulate of Israel in Davao City
Located at Gadol Building 117 Fransisco Ave. Juna Subd. Matina, Davao City
Screengrab by THEPHILBIZNEWS
By Monsi A. Serrano
His Excellency Rafael Harpaz, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Philippines, the inauguration of the Honorary Consulate of Israel in Davao City and the conferment of Honorary Consul Jorge Narciso Marquez in a ceremony this morning, October 6, 2020.
Based on the revelation of Ambassador Harpaz, when President Rodrigo Duterte made his historical visit to Israel last 2018, they already discussed putting up a Consular Office to strengthen the relationship of Israel in the people of Mindanao.
The opening of the Honorary Consulate of Israel in Davao City is a milestone for both Davao City, the hometown of the President and the Israel Embassy, but due to pandemic, President Duterte skipped the inauguration and just sent a video message to extend his congratulations to the Government of Israel.
The Jewish Association of the Philippines President Salito Malca, Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President Yoray Ofek, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and the Mindanaoan Senators also convey their congratulatory messages on the special occasion.
For his part, Ambassador Harpaz expressed his utmost gratitude. and underscored the strong bilateral relationships and friendship between the Philippines and Israel which dates back as early as 1930s.
The Israeli envot also invited the Filipinos to visit Israel after the pandemic, especially Jerusalem his hometown.
“Filipinos should visit Israel. There are thousands of Filipinos who visited our country and they loved it there. I hope that after the pandemic, you will get to visit Israel. It’s visa-free for the Filipinos” Ambassador Harpaz added.
Accepting the conferment as Honorary Consul of Israel Consulate, Jorge Narciso Marquez said. “We are really happy that the government of Israel has been very supportive to us. With the Honorary Consulate of Israel now in Davao City, we would be able to closely collaborate with the Embassy of Israel, as well as the Jewish Association of the Philippines and Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines for our mutual growth.”
Today’s event also highlighted a video presentation on the turnover of donations from the Embassy of Israel to the Philippines for the people of Davao City showing the upgrading of facilities in the City Health Office, particularly the Malabog Birthing Home, Bunawan District Lying-in Center and Toril Health Center.
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines is pleased to announce the opening of Israel’s Honorary Consulate in Davao City, Mindanao. This is one of the milestones achieved after the historic visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Israel in September 2018.
Apart from the opening of the Honorary Consulate in Davao, the Defense Attaché also opened at the Embassy in Manila and an Economic and Trade Attaché office will follow.
The opening of the said offices is expected to strengthen further the historic and friendly relations between Israel and the Philippines. It will also enhance the cooperation between the two countries in many areas such as overseas Filipino workers, development assistance, agriculture, health, innovation, counterterrorism strategies, trade and economy, among others.
The pillars of the strong and friendly relations between Israel and the Philippines can be traced back during the time of President Manuel Quezon where he opened the doors of the Philippines that saved approximately 1,300 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi regime in the 1930s; and under the presidency of Manuel Roxas in 1947, the Philippines was the only Asian country that voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 creating the State of Israel.
From the Israeli side, it has provided assistance to the Philippines such as its biggest relief operations conducted after Typhoon Yolanda devastated the latter in 2013. Over the years, Israeli experts have been training thousands of Filipinos both in Israel and in the Philippines in the fields of health, agriculture, innovation, and more. The OFWs who are taking good care of the elderly people in Israel are highly appreciated especially during this difficult time.
In the middle of the pandemic, Israel has donated personal protective equipment to the Department of National Defense and Philippines National Police and learning equipment to the Department of Education.
In celebration of the opening of the Honorary Consulate in Mindanao, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation – MASHAV, through Honorary Consul for Mindanao Mr. Marquez, donated medical supplies and equipment to Bunawan District Lying-in, Malabog Birthing Home, and Toril Health Center in Davao City on October 2, 2020. The donated items aim to assist in the upgrading of the facilities and address the need for these health centers.
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