ANGELES CITY -- The local chief executive here recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the City of Davao, which establishes a sisterhood city pact that will nurture and encourage cooperation between the two local governments and their constituencies.
Held February 23 at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed the MOA witnessed by University Chancellor, Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, together with selected stakeholders and AUF student & faculty members.
According to Pamintuan, this is a concerted effort between two local government units who wish to go beyond what is expected of them in terms of good governance.
“Government sans boundaries – this is the goal that Mayor Duterte and I have in mind upon entering this agreement. Both our passions to better serve the people’s welfare will tremendously benefit both Angeles and Davao.” said the mayor, who added that the agreement includes the mutual support and opportunities that will equally benefit the two cities.
“With Davao City’s reputation as one of the safest cities in the Philippines, we could learn a thing or two from their local government in improving our peace and order efforts here in Angeles.” he added.
The agreement aims to promote and foster strong ties, mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill through practical exchanges in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism, planning and urban development, commerce, trade and industry, youth development, education and sports, environmental protection, agriculture, public health and social services.
Mayor Duterte was in Angeles City to deliver a lecture on federalism to students, faculty members and officers of AUF. The two lawyer-mayors were batch mates while they were taking up law studies in San Beda College.
Angeles City has also forged sister-city agreements with the cities of San Fernando, Pampanga; Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Valenzuela in the Philippines and with foreign cities which include Koror, Palau; Seo District, Daegu, South Korea and Las Vegas, Nevada.