San Mateo helps promote Zambo tourism industry

MAYOR Jose Rafael Diaz of San Mateo municipality, Rizal province, underscored the significance of the sisterhood agreement that he forged on Saturday with Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Diaz also expressed intentions to help promote Zamboanga City’s tourism industry.

“You can count on San Mateo to become the campaign manager of Zamboangueños on the other side of the Philippines,” Diaz said.

ZAMBOANGA. Mayor Jose Rafael Diaz (left) of San Mateo, Rizal receives a miniature of the City Hall of Zamboanga from Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat (right) after they signed on Saturday a sisterhood agreement. (Bong Garcia)

“We can now include Zamboanga (City) as a veritable (tourist) destination,” Diaz added.

Diaz and his Vice Mayor, Bartolome Rivera Jr., and 11 other members of the Municipal Council and the Municipal Government arrived in Zamboanga City on Friday in time for the signing of the sisterhood agreement Saturday highlighting Zamboanga City’s “Dia de Fundancion de Chabacano” celebration.

Diaz admitted that hearing and reading all the news about Zamboanga City and the neighboring areas would give one the impression that the city is not a safe place.

“Iba ang Zamboanga, pag napuntahan mo na, pag hindi pa may misconceptions ka and you might not have clear understanding of what a great city Zamboanga is. But when you come here, napakaganda, we will be back here, I assure you that,” Diaz said.

Diaz and his delegation visited the different tourist attractions and industrial sites of the city.

They also graced the Gran Concierto of the Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale Friday night and the Noche Cultural, the culminating event of the Dia de Fundacion de Chabacano celebration, held Saturday night at the National Museum Courtyard.

The signing of the sisterhood agreement between Zamboanga City and the Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal Province, was held at the City Hall conference room amidst a red carpet reception for the visiting officials.

Lobregat signed the agreement on behalf of the City of Zamboanga while Diaz signed on behalf of San Mateo.

Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde of Zamboanga City and his counterpart from San Mateo, Vice Mayor Rivera, stood as witnesses to the signing event.

Part of the sisterhood pact read, “The people of both the Zamboanga and San Mateo Local Government Units agree to collaborate for the mutual benefit of their communities by exploring, educational, economic and cultural opportunities and by sharing technology in the fields of commerce and industry.”

The two parties likewise agreed to “support and encourage opportunities for mutually beneficial and practical exchanges in the fields of business, arts and culture, health, science, education, sports, tourism and local governance; agree to exchange constructive ideas and best practices in local governance to increase both LGUs’ knowledge and understanding in effectively managing various facets of city governance” and “agree to encourage and foster goodwill and friendship, inter-LGU visits of city officials and executives, associations and residents of the City of Zamboanga and Municipality of San Mateo.”

Other members of the San Mateo delegation include Councilors Norberto Salen, Rogelio San Miguel, Angel Antonio, Froilan Sales, Reynaldo Rivera and Mark Ian Buenviaje, League of Barangay President Joel Diaz, Mr. Ruben Suegay, Municipal Council Secretary Cristina Cabusay, Ma. Armida Galano and Municipal Administrator Ric Gomez.

On the other hand, Zamboanga City Councilors present were Abdurahman Nuño, Lilia Nuño, Myra Paz Abubakar, Rodolfo Lim, Percival Ramos, Vincent Paul Elago, Reinerio Candido, Rogelio Valesco, Jr., Miguel Alavar, Benjamin Guingona, III, Eduardo Saavedra, Luis Biel III and Rodolfo Bayot.