Cebu City renews ties with Dutch sister city

CEBU, Philippines - After 20 years of friendship and partnership in various advocacies, the Cebu City Government and Haarlemmermeer City in Holland renewed ties yesterday for more years of working together for a common goal.

Haarlemmermeer, Cebu City’s sister city for 22 years now, signed a memorandum with the latter, pledging support to each other in fields of education, cultural exchange, health and emergency response and agriculture, among others.

This Dutch city specifically pledged to continue supporting various ongoing fields of cooperation such as the placement program in Haarlemmermeer for students from Cebu City on agricultural and greenhouse horticulture, housing and support for the elementary school in Tisa and the advisory role of Security Region Kennermerland to Cebu’s Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

Haarlemmermeer Mayor Theo Weterings said that the placement program they currently have with Cebu City has contributed a lot to their young people who come to their city and go home with some learning and exposure that they can apply.

Weterings also said that the people of Haarlemmermeer take pleasure with working with ERUF in saving lives.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that the friendship with Haarlemmermeer has gone a long way.

Weterings said some of their people have married Cebuanos and are either settling here or in Haarlemmermeer.

In the years to come, both governments have agreed to cooperate in the exchange of knowledge and programs focused on safety and security, continuously promote the exchange of students and young people from and to both cities and more cultural exchange and exhibitions.

Haarlemmermeer and Cebu City partnered with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in the implementation of projects to attain the goals.  — (FREEMAN)