Duterte going to Israel for 3-day official visit starting Sept.2

August 10, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte will undertake a three-official visit to Israel starting Sept. 2.

"It is going to be the first visit of its kind of a sitting President of the Philippines," Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau told reporters Friday.

Duterte, Matityau said, will meet Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

"We are now working on the list of agreements in different areas. Some of them in defense, in the civilian sector," he said.

Matityau said Duterte is expected to have a big business delegation, noting many contracts will be signed in areas of technology transfer.

Israeli companies, he added, are eyeing joint ventures with Filipino counterparts, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

"I'm sure it will pave the road to a much more positive energy in our relations," Matityau said.

Among the highlights of Duterte's Israel trip is a meeting with the Filipino community and a tour of the Holy Land and "must-see places and monuments."

There are around 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, working mostly as caregivers

Matityau said he hopes Duterte's visit will start talks on a direct flight between Manila and Tel Aviv to increase tourism.

In 2017, some 23,500 Filipinos traveled to Israel, up 61 percent from 14,600 in 2016. DMS