CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Newly-appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to the Philippines, Menashe Bar-on Wednesday said his country is eyeing several areas of partnership with Cebu, particularly in the fields of agriculture, trade, and education. In education, Bar-on said there are courses in Israel still not introduced here and both countries can discuss a possible exchange of expertise to enhance Philippine education.
Israeli ambassador to the Philippines Menashe Bar-On told reporters at an Israeli event promoting the country’s tourist attractions that they normally issue 10,000 working visas a year to Filipino caregivers, but this could probably go higher. There are 100,000 Filipinos in Israel. "At least 90 percent of caregivers in Israel are Filipinos. Probably we can absorb some of the displaced Filipinos from the Middle East. The population is aging and more elderly people need caregivers. They have an ongoing agricultural program in Nueva Ecija to share knowledge with farmers to upgrade agricultural production in the Philippines. Some 250 graduating students are being sponsored to go to Israel to work with Israeli farmers."
