San Juan, Camarines Sur forge ties

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the San Juan City government and the provincial government of Camarines Sur signed a sisterhood agreement on Monday to cooperate with each other and exchange best practices in various fields.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte led the signing, held in Gota Village in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

The agreement also sealed the long friendship between the Zamora and Villafuerte clans. Former San Juan congressman Ronaldo Zamora and the late governor Luis Villafuerte were partners in a law firm in the 1970s.

“The Villafuerte and Zamora families have been friends for a very long time. The grandfather of Luigi and my dad have been friends since the 1970s, the time that I was just born. This sisterhood is already long overdue. This is the first time I’m doing this under my administration. We can learn a lot from you and in our own little way, we hope that we can help you,” Zamora said.

Villafuerte said the connection between their families “runs long and deep, that is why for me today is a very special moment because finally we can formalize the partnership between Villafuertes and Zamoras in the form of a sisterhood agreement.”

Under the agreement, the two local government units (LGUs) would cooperate and exchange best practices 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.

A joint technical working group will be created, composed of members of both LGUs, to prepare and recommend a program of activities.