Cebu City to renew ties with Kortrijk in Belgium

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City and Kortrijk City in Belgium will renew their sisterhood agreement today to share culture, resources, among others, for two more years.

City Councilor Alvin Dizon said part of the immediate activities is that the government of Kortrijk City will invite two Sinulog choreographers to Belgium to train their citizens.

Dizon said there will be a big festival in the said city and they want the Sinulog dance to be performed by their citizens which will help promote the Sinulog internationally.

“There’s going to be a big festival in Kortrijk, unya during that festival gusto nila pasayawon ang ilang mga lumulupyo sa Sinulog,”Dizon said.

The chosen two choreographers will go to Belgium in May this year and will stay there for around two weeks. The festival will happen during summer (period in the Philippines).

Dizon said the Cebu City government has been a sister-city of Kortrijk City for 10 years already.

During that period, Kortrijk City government helped the Cebu City government in solid waste management.

“Ubay-ubay atong project, in the solid waste management, gitudloan ta unsoan pa-segregate sa atoang waste. Sa landfill, pag-manage sa atong landfill,” Dizon said.

In addition, the Cebu City government also sent some youth leaders to Belgium to learn their culture, tradition and sports.

“Exchange program to learn the culture, appreciate the culture unsay mga innovative programs sa mga batan-on sa education, sports, unya the solid waste youth participation and citizens participation,” he added.

Dizon said the officials of the Kortrijk City also wish to learn how the Cebu City government facilitates the participation of the citizens in local governance.

“Ang gusto nila makat-onan sa Cebu City atong participation sa atong mga citizens in local governance kay na impress man sila kay active kaayo ta, ang atong mga NGOs ang atong people organizations,” he said.

Kortrijk Deputy Mayor Bert Herrewyn, together with other delegates who attended the City Council’s regular session yesterday, said he is expecting to learn a lot about the culture of Cebu City.

He is also looking for more activities that would help solve many concerns such as the problem on climate change. — (FREEMAN)