Manila: Israel unveiled on Wednesday an Israeli-financed digital literacy center at the Jacinto Zamora Elementary School in Manila as part of its 78th Independence Day celebration in the Philippines. The center is equipped with desktop computers, coding software, and learning materials donated by the embassy.

According to Philippines News Agency, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh, in an interview, said Israel also intends to tap experts to visit and personally teach students the basics of computer programming, and share Israel's journey as a leader in innovation. 'This (project) is unique, because it's a digital learning center, and the aim is to focus on digital, to focus on literacy, and to sit together and learn together and dream together,' she said.

'So, it's one space that you have Israeli innovation technology, that you can learn how to do coding and other innovation," Kursh added. Present at the launch were Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Kiko Benitez, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Tess De Vega.

In a separate interview, Angara thanked the embassy for the project, and conveyed the Philippines' openness to further partner with Israel on the field of education.