Israel Innovation to Help Philippines With Water Management

Jerusalem, 8 April, 2024 (TPS) -- MANILA, April 6, 2024 (PNA)
The Philippine government is exploring ways to integrate more water management innovations in its mitigation efforts against the effects of El Niño on agriculture.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is already using foreign and local technologies to ensure that crops are well-maintained even during El Niño-induced droughts.

“There will always be room for improvement with regard to response. So, when it’s El Niño, it’s all about water management interventions. So, what are the other innovations, technologies?” he said.

De Mesa said the DA is looking into sharing the alternate wetting and drying technology to more Filipino farmers, while considering other innovations such as “fertigation” (fertilizer integrated into irrigation) and drip technology for rice.

“Some are Israeli [innovation], some are other technologies. These are just among what we are considering for the next coming years. Some of these technologies are Israeli, some are not. The DA is considering all available technologies),” said De Mesa.

“We also have many available local technologies,” he added.

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon are expected to linger until June.

At a business forum in Makati City on April 4, Israelk Ambassador Ilan Fluss said Israel is ready to cooperate with the Philippines to source more water solution technologies.

“Water is very high on the priority of the Israeli Embassy in Manila,” the ambassador said. “Of course, the two countries are so different from each other, with different water infrastructures and different solutions but still the process and approach are quite similar. We’d like to share those best practices.”

During a previous meeting, Fluss shared that that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. identified agriculture, water, and defense as priority areas for Philippines-Israel relations.

The Israel Embassy gathered nine Israeli firms during the forum to share modern water solutions to public and private stakeholders.