Davao City, Palau forge sisterhood accord

DAVAO CITY – The Micronesian state of Palau has strengthened its ties with this city, the leading growth center in the south.

Officials of Davao City and Palau’s capital state of Koror forged here over the weekend a sister-city agreement, which will involve joint undertakings by various sectors.

A 30-man delegation from Palau, led by Koror Gov. Yositaka Adachi, arrived here for the signing of the memorandum of agreement.

"We look forward to stronger cooperation with Koror and with Palau through this sisterhood agreement," said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who signed the agreement on the city’s behalf.

The cooperation will be in the fields of trade and investment promotion, economic development, tourism development, education, culture and sports, science and technology, agriculture and fisheries, as well as other fields which both cities may agree on.

Koror is considered to be Palau’s main commercial center, accounting for at least 90 percent of the total population of the Micronesian nation.

Palau, which boasts of great diving sites, is an hour and 30 minutes by plane from Davao City. Asian Spirit flies the route thrice weekly. – Edith Regalado