GOV. Gwendolyn Garcia would like Cebu Province and Davao City to be “sisters.”

She signified the “Province’s sincerest intention and interest” to enter into a sisterhood agreement with Davao City through a letter to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The letter was dated Aug. 6, 2019 when Cebu Province celebrated its 450th founding anniversary, which Duterte-Carpio attended on the invitation of the governor.

“Despite differences in population and land area, both local government units can learn a great deal from each other by sharing strategies, experiences and policies in areas of urban planning development, socio-cultural programs, education, health, disaster and risk management, community organization, tourism and local governance,” wrote Garcia.

She presented the letter of intent to Duterte-Carpio during the morning ceremony at the Capitol grounds.

Aiming for no. 1

In response, Duterte-Carpio said that while Davao City may be “younger” than Cebu, the former will be keeping its doors open to the province.

Duterte-Carpio said Davao City will be responding with a “positive” answer to the Provincial Government’s interest in forging a sisterhood.

She said that she would look at how Garcia, as she had mentioned, would make Cebu the number one province again.

“Never pa mi nahimong number one city, but that is something nga pwede namo tanawon (Davao City has never been number one yet, but that is something that we could look into),” Duterte-Carpio said.

She dreams of making Davao City number one too, although she pointed out that its being located in Mindanao has been a factor against Davao City.

“With the experiences and best practices of Cebu Province, pwede namo mabuhat pud sa among lugar (maybe we can also apply these in Davao) and we may become the number one city in the country,” she said.

Tree planting

After the opening salvo, Garcia and Duterte-Carpio planted a narra tree in front of the west wing of the Capitol building.

The two then proceeded to open the Tabo sa Kapitolyo Agri-Fishery Trade Fair, which showcased delicacies and products from Cebu’s component cities and towns.

Officials and representatives from towns and component cities, Provincial Board members, police and military officials and Vice Gov.Hilario Davide III were also present.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama also dropped by to join the flag-raising ceremony and to witness the raising of the flags of the province, towns and cities to the tune of the Sugbo hymn. (RTF)