BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said on Wednesday a student exchange program between the city of Vallejo in California in the US and Baguio is in the offing.
This, he said, is to allow students to experience the culture and education in both cities.
In the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed at the Baguio City Hall grounds on Monday, the two sister-cities agreed to further their ties through the conduct of researches in areas beneficial to both cities, keeping liaisons with sister-city groups, organizing tour groups, and having student exchange programs.
The two cities also agreed to have an exchange of books, periodicals, artworks, photography, recorded music, motion pictures, videotapes, and professional and technical literature.
There will also be exchanging of gifts and articles of cultural and informative value, and promoting formal and friendly relations between groups and schools, youth organizations, clubs, chambers of commerce, and churches.
“We want the students from Vallejo to experience our culture and learn the language. Same with our students here in Baguio,” said Vallejo City Councilor Rozzana Verder Aliga, a Filipina who hails from Quezon City, during the occasion.
Domogan said Vallejo officials were also considering donating to Baguio slightly used desktop and laptop computers, which are in still in good condition and which Baguio students could still use.
“One thing I am also trying to take advantage of is the computers that they want to ship to us,” he said.
The signing of the renewed MOU took place on the silver anniversary of the two cities’ friendship toward good governance and sustainable economic growth for both places.
Fundraising for special projects and creating opportunities for bilateral trade are also part of the renewed deal.
Aliga added that a lot of Filipino food establishments had opened in Vallejo, and the people there are looking at expanding trade with the Philippines, particularly with Baguio City.
She said the American city government is toying with the possibility of introducing Cordillera products in Vallejo.
On the possible youth exchange, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Levy Lloyd Orcales said Baguio’s youth are looking forward to it, since this would involve the youth in the arts and culture.
Domogan also told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the City of Pines is considering partnering with Vallejo City for the development of the Asin Hydro Power Plant in Tuba, Benguet, which the city government owns. (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA)
