Israel opens honorary consulate in Davao
AMBASSADOR Rafael Harpaz personally inaugurated on February 22 the opening of the State of Israel’s honorary consulate to Mindanao based in Davao City, headed by Honorary Consul Jorge Marquez.
Due to pandemic restrictions, the conferment of Marquez to his current designation, as well as the soft opening of the honorary consulate, were conducted online on October 6, 2020.
The three-day official visit of Harpaz and his wife Shulamit, as well as Consul Sarit Avivi, included a virtual meeting with Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-carpio of Davao City. They discussed the strong bond between Israel and the local government unit, which is expected to grow stronger— especially with the establishment of the honorary consulate there. Harpaz mentioned to the local chief executive that Israeli tourists would certainly come and visit Davao soon as travel normalizes.
The Israeli delegation also visited the Toril Health Center—one of the three district health centers in the area—all of which benefited from the donations of Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, or MASHAV. Harpaz personally inspected the medical supplies, equipmentand earth works improvements, which qualified the center for the health permit renewal of its birthing home facility.
The envoy also met with city officials led by Governor Edwin Jubahib of Davao del Norte, Mayor Al David Uy of the Island Garden City of Samal and Davao-based Israeli businessmen.
The physical opening ceremony was attended by embassy officials and other guests, as well as staff members of the honorary consulate. It is located at Gadol Building inside Juna Subdivision, 117 Francisco Avenue, Matina, Davao City.