Guv invited to leaders’ eco-forum

Monday, February 13, 2012

A JAPANESE official has invited Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to attend a convention on environmental issues in their country.

Naotoshi Sugawara, a member of Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly, paid a courtesy visit on the governor last Friday.

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He said that after the tsunami hit Japan last March, they have decided to come up with a gathering of public leaders and experts to discuss problems like climate change. 

They will also include the topics oftourism, trade and commerce.

During the meeting, Garcia said they may also sign a sisterhood agreement between Kanagawa and Cebu Province.  But, he said, that he can’t decide on his own and will inform their governor once he will be back in Japan.

He was impressed with Cebu and how developed the area is. 

“I thought this (Cebu) is only about beaches,” he told reporters, adding that the business environment is also good in the city and province.

Aid to towns

Garcia, meanwhile, will turn over the financial assistance to five municipalities in Negros Oriental. These were heavily affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake last Feb. 6.

In a chance interview last Saturday, she said she has called their governor about the Cebu Provincial Government’s assistance.

Amount

An amount of P1 million each will be given to Tayasan town and Guihulngan City because they had the most number of affected families.

Another P1 million will be divided between Jimalalud and Bindoy towns and P250,000 will be given to the town of La Libertad.

She based her decision on the giving of financial assistance on the assessment report of damages made by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.