Israel’s Ambassador-designate to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, expressed support Tuesday night to the proposal of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to establish a Water and Weather Database and Monitoring System in Mindanao to support its Agriculture and prepare for disasters.
Ambassador Fluss, who joined the opening of the 5-Session Online Course on “Water Management and Conservation” for Mindanao Governors, Mayors and decision makers, said that he supports the establishment of a Technical Cooperation between Israel and MinDA.
Fluss, who is still in Tel Aviv and has yet to submit his credentials to President Duterte, said a Technical Cooperation between Israel and MinDA “is something which I am very excited to work on.”
Ambassador Fluss takes over the Philippine post from Ambassador Rafael Harpaz who, along with Deputy Chief of Mission Nir Balzam, worked with MinDA on the conduct of the Online Course on “Water Conservation and Management” for Mindanao decision-makers, especially Governors and Mayors.
The idea of a Mindanao Weather and Water Database and Monitoring System came about after the first lecture on “The Climate Crisis in the World, Southeast Asia and the Phiippines” delivered by Dr. Amir Givati, chief scientific officer of Asgard Systems.
Dr. Givati warned of the unpredictability of the weather in these times and emphasized that the nation which possesses accurate data on water and weather would be more prepared to face the challenges of climate change.
A participant from South Cotabato raised the issue of access to accurate and location specific weather and water data as one of the problems of her province.
This gave me an idea on the need for a Database and Monitoring System for Water and Weather in Mindanao which I presented right away to Ambassador Fluss as a possible area of technical cooperation between Israel and MinDA.
The Mindanao Weather and Water Database and Monitoring System (MinDAWWDMS) is expected to provide up to date and accurate data on both water resources and weather to guide Mindanao leaders in decision making and support agriculture and fisheries stakeholders.
Ambassador Fluss said he would work on the Technical Cooperation Agreement as soon as he arrives in Manila and after he has presented his credentials to the President.
The next session of the 5-Session Weekly Lectures on “Water Management and Conservation: The Israel Model” will be on Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.
During the Aug. 24 session, Uri Shor of the Israel Water Authority will present “Water Conservation: From Awareness To Action – The Israeli Experience” while Dr. Lior Asaf, MASHAV Water Expert will present “Sustainable Water Management for Agriculture.”
The 2-hour 5-Session Online Short Course features Israel’s experts in Water Conservation and Management and is a joint project of the MASHAV Agricutural Training Center based in Tel Aviv and MinDA.
Mindanao Governors and Mayors and other participants who would be able to complete the course will receive Certificates of Completion and would be invited to visit Israel to actually see the Water Infrastructure of the leading country in water management.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#FoodGrowsWhereWaterFlows!
(Images were grabbed during last night’s first session of the Water Conservation and Management Course.)
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