Cebu City and Himamaylan City have formalized a sisterhood agreement designed to elevate local governance, enhance development, and exchange successful initiatives across multiple sectors.
The partnership was officially sealed on Wednesday afternoon by Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. during a signing ceremony held at the Shangri-La Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation
In a social media update following the event, Mayor Tongson expressed his appreciation to Mayor Archival for welcoming the alliance with the southern Negros Occidental city.
“The two cities will move forward as sisters, carrying one shared promise: to turn this partnership into progress that our people can see, feel, and carry into the future,” Tongson shared.
The agreement aims to streamline cooperation and the exchange of expertise between the two localities. Key areas of collaboration include:
- Economic Growth: Trade and tourism
- Social Development: Education, healthcare, sports, and social services
- Infrastructure & Environment: Urban planning, environmental preservation, and disaster resilience
- Heritage: Cultural preservation
Mayor Tongson highlighted how this alliance benefits his home constituency:
“This partnership also expands the opportunity for our city to share our experiences and adopt ideas that will further strengthen our service to the people of Himamaylan,” he noted.
He also assured his constituents of the local government’s active commitment to the pact, stating:
“We will strive to make this sisterhood fruitful and felt by our people through concrete programs and opportunities.”
A Shared Commitment to Progress
Mayor Archival likewise shared his optimism online, noting that Cebu City is eager to collaborate with Himamaylan on critical areas such as disaster preparedness, environmental safety, and economic enhancement.
“Kini nga kasabutan dili lang pirma sa usa ka dokumento. (This agreement is not just a signature on a document). It is a commitment to work together, share best practices, strengthen local governance, and create more opportunities that will benefit our people,” Archival emphasized.
The formal signing was witnessed by Grace Sheila Avanzado, the executive director of the Cebu Sister Cities Commission, and engineer Jovil Zayco, the local government relations unit officer for Himamaylan City.