SAN JUAN SIGNS SISTERHOOD PACT WITH DAVAO CITY, GAINS ITS 4^TH SISTER-CITY

 

            The City Government of San Juan, represented by Mayor JV Ejercito recently signed a sisterhood agreement with the local government of Davao City, represented by its local chief executive, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

             The sister-city agreement signing was held during a luncheon at the Harana Restaurant in Davao City last October 4, 2008 and was witnessed by more than 60-man delegation of local officials from both cities.

             In its City Resolution, San Juan established a sisterhood relation with Davao City, which is said to “share a common desire to promote and foster strong special ties, mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill and share the same intention of creating an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened”.

             “We hope to learn a lot from Davao in terms of policies as well as share what we call our “economic miracle’ in San Juan, Mayor JV said after the signing.

             This is San Juan City’s 4^th local government that it tied with, through sisterhood agreement, after inking a pact with the Municipality of Gerona, Tarlac in 2006 and with the Municipality of Loay, Province of Bohol and the City Santa Barbara in California, USA, respectively, in August this year.

             Davao City on the other hand, just had its first taste of sister-city ties after twenty long years; its last sisterhood pact was signed with the local government of Quezon City in 1988.

             The Sisterhood Agreement stated that the Cities of San Juan and Davao, “shall in accordance with their prevailing laws and regulations, establish a Sister City Cooperation to promote and expand effective and mutually beneficial efforts for the development of both cities, within the limits of their financial, material, and human resource capabilities in the fields of tourism; trade, commerce and industry; science and technology; culture and arts; urban planning and development; education; sports development, environment protection, public health; and social services”.

             “We are proud to continuously gain sister cities for the past three years which just manifest that the local governments, even the cities abroad, are confident that the City Government of San Juan has all what it takes to be an ideal sister city” Mayor JV said.    

             “It makes us even prouder to share with our sister-cities how San Juan has reached its most progressive status even without the support from the national government”, Mayor JV added.