BUILDING TIES. Kochi Prefecture official, Deputy Director Kouji Yokobatake (left) of the Department of Culture, Community, and Sports receives a “gong” token from Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas (right) during the Japanese delegation’s courtesy call on Tuesday evening (Jan. 17, 2023) at the provincial capitol. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Officials of the Kochi Prefecture in Japan are now in the province for a three-day visit to boost its partnership with the provincial government of Benguet.
Governor Melchor Diclas said Wednesday the officials led by Deputy Director Kouji Yokobatake of the Department of Culture, Community and Sports are in the province to plan the 50th anniversary of the Benguet-Kochi Prefecture partnership which is slated in 2025.
Diclas claimed that the foreign officials have expressed willingness to help the province how it can market its local produce. This is on top of the efforts being extended to Benguet in upgrading the skills of the local farmers.
This, Diclas said, was their way of expanding the almost half-a-century ties that it built with the province of Benguet.
“They are going around Benguet to see different facilities so they would know how will they be able to help us market our products,” Diclas said.
Even before that, the governor added, Kochi Prefecture has been granting internship programs to young Benguet farmers to build their skills.
“Our farmers' internship program where young farmers from different municipalities go to Japan to undergo a one-year to three years internship in a farm in Kochi, Japan had been going on for years which is a result of our friendly ties with them,” he said.
The group on Tuesday, together with Benguet officials went to the Benguet-Kochi friendship park in Atok, Benguet where Sakura was planted as a symbol of friendship.
The Kochi delegation is also set to meet with the Provincial Agriculture officials, Provincial Tourism officials, and the Human Resource Officer of the Province.
They will also visit the Benguet AgriPinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), which houses several processing facilities, managed jointly by the Department of Agriculture, Benguet provincial government and Benguet State University (BSU).
They are expected to have a dialogue with BSU officials to discuss the student exchange program.
A possible caregiver employment program might also be discussed, the governor added. (PNA)
