Sagada. Mountain Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. had a short meeting with Ambassador Rafael Harpaz at Rock Inn and Café, in this famous tourist town.
His Excellency Harpaz was accompanied by his wife Madam Shulamit Harpaz.
Gov. Lacwasan presented to HE Harpaz the COVID 19 update in Mountain Province and responses that were implemented by the provincial government and municipal government units. Among these were the constant reminders to constituents of the adherence to minimum health protocols, isolation of patients, conduct of COVID tests and contact tracing, the putting up of checkpoints in entrances of municipalities, maintenance of triage centers, giving of financial and food assistance, implementation of lockdown, and the like.
He stressed that the people in the province survive due to resiliency, and the value of ob-obbo (bayanihan), saving money and food supplies.
Gov. Lacwasan further related that most of the households have their own backyards for raising chicken and swine, fruits and vegetables as sources livelihood.
The staff of the Provincial Tourism Office discussed the brief background of tourism in the province, especially the negative effect of the pandemic to tourism stakeholders in terms of economy.
He cited that closure of tourism has a domino effect in the province. Aside from the main players such as the owners of accommodation establishments, restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops, groceries, transportation facilities, and tour guides/porters, the farmers were also greatly affected, he expalined.
HE Harpaz appreciated the natural beauty of Sagada as a famous tourist destination. Due to limited time, he and his wife only visited the hanging coffins and rice terraces.
The diplomat shared that about 30,000 Filipino OFWs in Israel were vaccinated by the Israeli government, free of charge. He also mentioned that Filipinos are the best OFWs in Israel.
According to the Ambassador, there were many Filipinos who were trained on agriculture especially on hydrophonics and use of the state of the art dripping irrigation system, and post harvest technology before the onset of the global killer virus. He assured that the Isreali government will continue to grant the same training when the world-wide abnormal situation will stabilize.
With Lacwasan were: Vice Governor Francis Tauli, Board Members Randolph Awisan and Henry Bastian, PCol Ruben Andiso, PD of Mountain Province Police Office, and staff of the Provincial Tourism Office of PLGU-Mtn. Province. **by: Francis B. Degay
