Rama attends mayors' confab in Israel

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was out of the country since last night to attend the 27th Annual Mayor’s Conference in Israel.

Rama has designated Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and first Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa as acting mayor and vice-mayor, respectively.

The conference will be hosted by the American Council for World Jewry, the Union of the Local Authorities in Israel and the Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I’m more concerned on the gatherings of the mayors,” Rama said, adding the conference will help them discover the opportunities emerging from urban innovations.

Israel Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dammy Ayalon said the event will enable participants from different countries to have direct contact with mayors from Israel and from all over the world, affording an opportunity to share professional know-how with leading experts in urban development.

Ayalon, in his letter to Rama, said the event will share experiences in terms of digital education, creating safe cities and introducing alternative energy into modern cities.

During the conference, the mayors from Israel and the other countries around the world will present various projects focusing on education, culture and industry in a modern city. They will share their experiences as to the importance of foreign relations in running a city in the modern era.

Rama is also excited as part of their itinerary is to visit ancient historical and religious sites. The mayors will take a glimpse of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the earth and the Masada, a historical landmark symbolizing the timeless aspiration for freedom.

They will have a reception at the residence of the President of Israel and the participants will be taken on a private tour in Yad Vashem to see the historical documentation of the Holocaust. (FREEMAN)