ISRAEL NATIONAL INSURANCE INSTITUTE DIRECTOR GENERAL CONGRATULATES MEMBERS OF PHILIPPINES AND ISRAEL NEGOTIATING PANELS FOR THE RP-ISRAEL SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT  

 15 November 2007 – Director General Dr. Yigal Ben-Shalom of the Israeli National Insurance Institute (NII) (3^rd from left) congratulates the members of the Philippines and Israel Negotiating Panels during a dinner hosted by Dr. Ben-Shalom at the conclusion of the negotiations for the RP-Israel Social Security Agreement.  Chargé d’Affaires and Head of the Negotiating Panel Gilberto Asuque acknowledges that the Agreement will benefit the OFWs in Israel and conform with the Philippine Foreign Policy in safeguarding the interests of the Filipino nationals abroad.  The Heads of the Philippine and Israeli negotiating panels earlier signed the Minutes of the Meeting and assured that their respective authorities will exert every effort to complete as soon as possible the internal process for the ratification and implementation of the Agreement.  The Social Security Agreement aims to provide social safety nets for OFWs who are working in Israel and Israelis working in the Philippines in terms of medical coverage for work-related diseases and injuries, maternity benefits and other social security benefits. The members of the Philippine Negotiating Panel include (R to L) Mr. Horacio T. Templo, Executive Vice President, SSS; Atty Judy Frances A. See, Vice President, International Affairs & Branch Expansion Division, SSS; Atty Roberto Bautista, Atty. Roberto Bautista, Head, International Affairs Department, SSS; (not in photo) PhilHealth Senior Vice President Valentin C. Guanio; Labor Attaché Merriam Cuasay, and Trade and Cultural Attaché Chester A. Omaga-Diaz.  The members of the Israeli Negotiating Panel include  (R to L) Atty. Irit Altschuler, First Deputy to the Legal Advisor, NII; and Mr. Jacob Sasporta, Head of Delegation and Director for International Convetions, NII (Embassy photo).

/Gary