The governments of Hungary and the Philippines will discuss the possibility of using the credit facility offered by Hungary as loan for a financing project that villages in areas surrounding rivers and lakes, such as Laguna Lake, can avail of to establish water treatment facilities.

Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Jozsef Bencze informed Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol about Hungary’s expertise in lake rehabilitation during a courtesy call on the DA chief on Wednesday/July 19.

“Hungary is advanced in their water treatment (system and technology),” Piñol said after meeting with the Hungarian ambassador.

Piñol is looking at the possibility of turning Laguna Lake as the pilot area.

“I have requested Sec. Carlos Dominguez of Department of Finance (DOF) to assist us in exploring how we could tap the credit facility they have offered,” Piñol said.

He said that while the credit facility could be managed by Land Bank of the Philippines, the fisher folk of Laguna Lake will be the one to manage the operations of the treatment facilities.

Piñol also informed Ambassador Bencze that he also interested in utilizing the same credit facility for the the construction of the proposed Philippine Rubber Tire Facility.

Finally, Ambassador Bencze, invited the DA chief to attend and send a Philippine delegation to the National Agriculture and Food Exhibition and Fair on September 20-24 in Budapest, Hungary.  (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)

Reference:

International Affairs Division
Department of Agriculture
Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1101
Republic of the Philippines
Direct Line (+63) (02) 920 40 86 to 87