CITY OF SAN FERNANDO Pampanga — Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Zvi Vapni met on Tuesday Pampanga provincial officials to discuss potential business and development programs in the province.

Ambassador Vapni was welcomed by Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, 4th District Board Member Ricardo Yabut and 2nd District Board Member Edna David, Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu, and other department heads.

Vapi assured Pampanga officials of his good intention to help the flood-stricken province move on with its projects.

Vapi said that Pampanga is at center of business commerce in Central Luzon and is well-known the world over. He said he is here in the Philippines to find out things in common for both countries.

He said among the common things the countries share in common is based on historical decisions, like when the late President Manuel Quezon opened its doors to Jews and when the late President Manuel Roxas voted for the “partition” of Palestine and Israel, initiated then by the United Nations.

“These are just few of the things we share. Of course, our respect for your people goes a long way since thousands of Filipinos work in our country as caregivers. We allow them to work in this field and no lower than that because we know they are caring and they are really a big help to the sick and needy in Israel,” Vapni said.

He hopes the provincial government and the Israeli government could work together in business activities and share technologies in the field of agriculture, particularly in the use of water for irrigation which he said Israel was advanced with.

“Let us move together and appreciate one another. Definitely, I will enjoy the tour and all the learning today,” Vapni said.