CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Pampanga provincial government, led by Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, facilitated the return of 18 Kapampangan Agro Studies graduates from Israel on Tuesday, October 17.
These graduates were fetched from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) back to Pampanga with the assistance of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) bus and personnel from the provincial government and coordination with some Kapampangan OFW Community in Israel.
The returning students completed an 11-month agriculture training program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Israel, which concluded last September. They were stationed at KFAR Silver Campus and Ruppin Campus in Ashkelon City, located 10 to 15 kilometers from the Gaza Strip.
“Yung mga terorista po pumapasok na po sa mismong city na po namin which is malapit din po sa Gsa strip. Nakakatrauma po kasi naririnig po namin yung mga bomba ang yung barilan po tapos may mga video pa po kaming na papanood kung papaano po nila pinapatay,” said Gabriel Lapuz, agro studies graduate from Israel.
Special Assistant to the Governor and PDRRM Chief Angelina Blanco welcomed the returning Kapampangans at the Capitol on behalf of Governor Delta.
She emphasized that the assistance provided aims to showcase the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the Kapampangan people.
“As the father of the province, the Governor wants to ensure the welfare of the Kapampangans even if they are out of the country. Nakahanda naman tayong magbigay ng post traumatic stress debriefing sa kanila if kailangan. Sa assessment ko sa mga bata kanina, medyo makikita mo sa mga mukha nila na parang shock pa sila,” said Blanco.
The students also expressed gratitude for the governor’s initiative to help them return safely.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Diyos dahil nakauwi ng ligtas sa Pilipinas at sa lahat po ng mga Tumulong sa amin especially kay Governor Delta at sa mga Filipino Community sa Israel sina Sir Marvin,” said Aldrin Pabalate.
It can be recalled that the provincial government also extended similar assistance to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amidst the pandemic through the “Balik Pineda, Balik Pampanga Program.”