Israeli envoy, OCD tackle disaster readiness

ISRAEL Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss met with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno and other officials to discuss enhancing disaster preparedness. Nepomuceno had OCD OIC Deputy Administrator for Operations Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio, Assistant Secretary Jekereen Joy Casipit, Director Caesar Agnir Jr. and Director Chris Bendijo meet with the Israeli diplomat. Fluss said he met with the OCD to discuss his country's expertise in disaster management. "We also had the opportunity to share insights on how Israel's comprehensive approach to managing man-made disasters can offer valuable lessons for the Philippines. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and strengthening our partnership in disaster preparedness and response," Fluss said. The discussions explored technological assistance in areas that included water purification, urban resilience and addressing Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. Nepomuceno said Fluss' visit "establishes a commitment to ongoing partnerships" between Israel and the Philippines, and also aims to "bolster resilience and tackle shared challenges," especially CBRN threats. "Israel has proven itself as a leader in disaster management and innovation. Our discussions open exciting avenues for collaboration," he said. "It is very interesting that the partnership with Israel will give us some ideas [on] how to deal with CBRN threats and save us from the hazards it brings that affect the nation's health and safety," he added.