15 December 2019, Tel Aviv, Israel – In coordination with the Agrostudies Program and Filipino community leaders, the Philippine embassy in Israel conducted a Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) to the latest batch of agricultural student-trainees on 14 December 2019 at the Beit Dani Hall in Tel Aviv.

The Agrostudies Program combines practical work and academic training in agriculture for 11 months in Israel. The program coordinates with 30 Philippine State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to bring Filipino agricultural students to Israel for training under agricultural experts and learn through hands-on training the latest techniques in farming. Since 2005, a total of 4,534 Filipino student-trainees have graduated from the program. The current group of 601 students arrived in Israel after the graduation of the previous batch of 638 students on 02 September 2019.

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial challenged the students to bring back to the Philippines the experience and knowledge they would gain in Israel, to boost the country’s agricultural sector. He added, ‘The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to tap the pool of more than 4,500 Agrostudies Program graduates in the Philippines to provide job and work opportunities in the DA and the local government units. The DA wants to turn the graduates of the program into 21st century farmers and agri-businessmen who can help the country attain food security.”

Consul General Randy Arquiza presented the various embassy services, the periodic security and safety advisories issued, and the coordination mechanisms with the students in the program.

Philipine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Officer-in-Charge Andrew Agravante provided an overview of the responsibilities and the functions of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and how the student’s can avail of the services.

The embassy considers the agrostudies program an important pillar of Philippines-Israel development cooperation in the agricultural sector.

 Photo with some of the agricultural students doing OJT in Israel. Ambassador Imperial is flanked to his right by Consul General Arquiza, (3,L) POLO Officer-in-Charge Andrew Agravante, (2,L) and Mr. Joeffrey Olayan,(1,L), and to his left by OWWA Assistant Antonio Sanchez, Jr.,(3,R) ATN Officer Mr. Emmanuel Arbado (2,R), and OWWA Assistant Monique Ordonez (1,R).