ZAMBOANGA CITY – This city and the Puerto Princesa City have forged a sisterhood agreement that seeks to strengthen ties in the aspects of culture, tourism and agriculture.
The accord was signed in a ceremony held Thursday night at the century-old City Hall of Zamboanga City with officials of both cities in attendance.
The signatories of this city were Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar and Vice Mayor Cesar Iturralde.
Councilor Maria Nancy Socrates represented Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron in the signing ceremony. She was accompanied by Councilors Rolando Amurao, Henry Gadiano, and Mathew Mendoza.
The signing of the sisterhood pact is based on Council Resolution 148 of Puerto Princesa City dated Spectember 20, 2016 and Resolution 1019 approved by the City Council of this city on October 18, 2016.
Socrates, in an interview, said they can learn many things from this city such us the culture, disaster preparedness, agriculture and sardines industry.
Zamboanga City can learn from Puerto Princesa City in terms of Community-based Sustainable Tourism.
“We celebrate not only the sisterhood but the opportunity for more growth and development,” Salazar said.
Salazar added that the sisterhood agreement “will not only be partnership in economics but as well as culture, and ecological and environment opportunities for the resources of both cities.”
“We need to inform other cities about what Zamboanga City can offer our visitors, and this (sisterhood pact) is one way of telling them,” Tourism Regional Director Myra Paz Abubakar said.
Abubakar is the author of Resolution 1019 that the City Council approved when she was still seating as member of the City Council representing first district.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her as tourism regional director on July 30, 2018.
Abubakar said she is looking forward for the city to emulate the cleanliness and the vibrant tourism sector of Puerto Princesa City. (R. G. Antonet Go/PNA)
