As a sign of goodwill, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza said one island in the 100 Islands Park will be named and designed like a little Baguio.
This is the first time Alaminos will be naming an island using the name of a sister city, Braganza said. Most of the islands were named after famous personalities.
Braganza said this is part of the continuing effort of increasing tourist arrivals. Similar to the Nayong Pilipino, famous destinations in the country will be featured in every island. Artists of Baguio have already been met for the design of the island.
Baguio, on the other hand, will bring foreign visitors to Alaminos, said Baguio City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, president of the Cordillera chapter of the Philippine Sisterhood and Twinning Association (Phista) and co-chairperson of the Baguio Sisterhood Committee.
In his speech, Braganza said even before resolutions were passed to make formal the sisterhood ties, Alaminos and Baguio have long been partners in various aspects.
He said Alaminos sees Baguio as a model city in terms of tourism, education, industry and medical and hospital facilities.
Several festivals have been born before the Panagbenga flower festival, but it was Baguio's festival which jumpstarted other local governments from promoting their own brand of festival. In a short span of time, Baguio was able to match tourist arrivals of other destinations in the country.
In signing the memorandum of agreement (MOA), Braganza said they intend to replicate the city's approach in improving the tourism industry.
At present, the 100 Islands Park Management is planning on improving its ferry system. Braganza said tourists visiting Alaminos could be ferried to another favorite destination in Pangasinan, which is Dagupan City or vice versa.
Officials of Alaminos are also planning on having their own Export Processing Zone, and this will be done by improving its industrial park. Braganza said billions have been spent for this but the plan to make Alaminos as a growth center in Pangasinan was not implemented. (RO)
