Manila: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that 21 Philippine government officials have returned from a study tour in Israel, bringing critical insights on sustainability, food security, and livestock production to enhance local programs.

According to Philippines News Agency, the delegation, consisting of officials from the DILG, Department of Agriculture, and various local government units, visited Israel at the invitation of the Israeli government to study agricultural innovation, dairy production, and cattle raising. The group initially planned to return to the Philippines in two batches on June 13 and 20. However, due to the eruption of conflict between Israel and Iran, flights were canceled, and airspace closures temporarily stranded the officials. They finally returned to the country on June 21.

DILG 1 (Ilocos) Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr., a member of the delegation, noted that the group was among several batches of Filipinos assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Israel. He explained that other Filipinos were evacuated before and after their group, as the embassy has been conducting repatriations since October last year.

The evacuation process involved coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine embassies in Israel and Jordan, allowing the delegates to be safely evacuated to Jordan, and from there, flown to Dubai before finally arriving home in the Philippines.

In an interview with DZRH, Lupi, Camarines Sur Mayor Lilian Matamorosa recounted the experience of frequent missile and bomb alerts, which forced the delegation to take shelter during heightened threats. She emphasized the importance of being prepared with a Go Bag containing essentials, as baggage was often left behind in rooms.

Despite the continuous missile attacks, Matamorosa stated that the delegation managed to complete the study tour, although their activities were restricted to training courses and seminars, and they could not visit farms as initially planned. She expressed hope that with the support of the national government, they could replicate Israel's agricultural best practices back in the Philippines.