The city of San Juan and the province of Camarines Sur signed a sisterhood agreement on Monday, Oct, 24, as the two local government units (LGUs) pledged continuous support for their respective projects and initiatives in their localities.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, together with his younger sister and now San Juan City Rep. Bel Zamora and other city government officials, personally went to Caramoan, Camarines Sur to visit Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte to formally put into paper what their respective LGUs have already been doing previously, predicated by a long friendship between the patriarchs of the Zamoras and the Villafuertes.

Former Congressman Ronaldo Zamora and the late Gov. Luis Villafuerte, Sr. were former partners in a law firm in the 1970s.

“Ang pamilya Villafuerte at Zamora ay matagal nang magkaibigan. Ang lolo ni Luigi at dad ko ay magkaibigan back in the 1970s – kapapanganak ko pa lang. Si Congw. Bel hindi pa pinapanganak, lalo si Gov. Luigi. Ibig sabihin ang pinagsamahan namin ay ilang dekada na (The Villafuerte and Zamora families have already forged a long lasting friendship. Luigi's grandfather and my father were friends back in the 1970's -- I was just born during that time while Congw. Bel and Gov. Luigi were both not born yet. This means the friendship between the two families has been for decades already)," Zamora said.

"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,” he added.

“The connection between the Zamoras and Villafuertes runs long and deep kaya for me today is a very special moment dahil finally mafo-formalize na po natin ang partnership (because finally we are going to formalize the partnership) of Villafuerte-Zamora in the form of a sisterhood agreement,” Villafuerte said.

For her part, Rep. Bel said that Villafuerte has since become like her older brother and mentor in terms of public service and local governance. She also expressed her gratitude to the local chief, saying "I am very happy to be with you to thank Gov. Villafuerte and his team and we will never forget this moment. Thank you very much. We would like to welcome you to the little city of San Juan."

Both the city government of San Juan and the provincial government of Camarines Sur have agreed to cooperate and exchange best practices in the fields of tourism, trade, commerce, 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 also be created, composed of members from both LGUs, to prepare and recommend program of activities.

“Marami po tayong mabebenepisyo at matututunan from one another, ‘yan po ang objective po natin. Nung hinagupit kami ng sunud-sunod na bagyo -- Quinta, Rolly, Ulysses, ang unang-unang LGU na tumulong ay San Juan, si Mayor Francis Zamora (We have a lot to benefit and learn from one another, that is the main objective of our sisterhood agreement. When we were devastated by consecutive storms -- Quinta, Rolly, Ulysses, the very first LGU to help us was San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora). Mayor, I want to let you know that our family and entire province will forever be grateful to you and the city of San Juan for your everlasting support for our province," Villafuerte said.