DAVAO City will again sign sisterhood agreements to strengthen relationships with one city and two towns this year.
The 18th City Council approved under suspended rules the resolutions authorizing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to sign Sister City Agreements with the Municipality of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Daly City, California in the United States of America (USA); and Kamikawa town, Hyogo Prefecture in Japan.
Committee on international relations chair Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre presented before the council the fields that these cities will foster and promote in the aim for development.
"The voluntary forging of ties to encourage education, agriculture, technology, tourism, cultural understanding, friendship and exchange, as well as more practical applications, like trade agreements and business partnerships," Alejandre said in a text message to SunStar Davao Tuesday, January 22.
"In both cases the connection between twin cities is stronger than any other kind of bond, friendship or partnership, they look out for one another, learn from each other and protect one another," he added.
The Sister City Agreement with Zamboanga Sibugay will focus on exchange of ideas in tourism and culture and agriculture, trade and commerce.
The agreement with Daly City aimed to promote the joint development and common prosperity of the two cities through exchange of ideas in tourism and culture; trade and commerce; and health and wellness.
While the agreement with Kamikawa Town aims to “enhance mutual understanding and deepen a friendly relationship between the cities through exchange in administration; economy; culture and education; and some exchanges in the private sector".
Alejandre said that there has been no final venue yet as to where the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with these cities will be signed.
"These sisterhood agreements will strengthen our bilateral relationship with other local governments. The continuous development cooperation and exchanges of best practices are among the advantages of the sisterhood,” Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag said.