Foreign cities offer ‘friendship city’ agreement with Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is set to forge ties via the “friendship city” agreement with Vancouver, Canada.

According to Atty. Collin Rosell, Mayor Michael Rama’s secretary, Vancouver wanted to sign the agreement right away following the strong Filipino community there.

However, Councilor James Cuenco, the chairman of the city’s Sister-City Commission, said the mayor still needs the City Council’s approval to sign the agreement.

Cuenco said he will present the draft for the friendship city agreement with Vancouver soon and expected to formalize everything by January when the delegation from Vancouver in next year’s Sinulog comes.

As for Vladivostok, Russia and Guadalajara, Mexico, the agreement is to be sealed soon as well but Cuenco said there is no need to rush.

This will be the first time that the City of Cebu, according to Cuenco, will go for a friendship city which is more private in nature.

In relation to this, Cuenco is even looking at trimming down its sister cities.

Currently, Cebu City has around 20 sister cities from different counties.

“We want to prune down nato atong mga sister cities so that we will have a quality relation with them, kanang naa gyud unod, naa tay makuha ug mahatag nila,” said Cuenco.

Cuenco emphasized the sister city and even the friendship city agreement is about the “exchange” of best practices.

“It’s an exchange really, it’s not really nga sige ra tag dawat…Best practices pud diri, cultural, they are also interested to learn about it,” said Cuenco. — GMR (FREEMAN)