By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
Manila Mayor Sheilah "Honey" Lacuna–Pangan signed a twinning agreement with three municipality mayors of Leyte at Bulwagang Katipunan, Manila City Hall on Friday, Nov. 18.
Under City Resolution 218 Series of 2022 and Municipality Resolution 19-22-076 Series of 2022, Palompon Mayor Ramon C. Oñate, Isabel Mayor Edgardo Cordeño and Matag-ob Mayor Bernie Tacoy signed the twinning agreement to promote understanding and goodwill between the City of Manila and their municipalities.
Lacuna said the agreement will serve as an opportunity for the city to benchmark the projects implemented in the municipalities.
"Formal na po nating binubuksan ang ating ugnayan bilang kapwa lokal ng ating pamahalaan. Syempre, ang mga pangunahing layunin po nito ay mapasigla ang oportunidad sa iba't ibang larangan (We are formally opening our relationship with you as a local partner of our government. Of course, its main goals are to stimulate opportunities in various fields)," the mayor said.
In his speech, Manila Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul" Nieto also said the agreement will help the city and the three municipalities develop their respective tourism, education and environmental sectors.
"Matibay ang aming paniniwala sa kagandahang maidudulot ng ating pakikipagkapatiran sa iba't ibang bayan at lungsod dahil nagsisilbi itong tulay para sa palitan ng kaalaman at impormasyon (We strongly believe in the goodness that our brotherhood can bring to different towns and cities because it serves as a bridge for the exchange of knowledge and information)," he said.
The municipality mayors also expressed their gratitude to the local government of Manila for recognizing the value of strategic partnership.
The municipality mayors also gave Mayor Lacuna a local handcrafted boat and boneless danggit from Leyte as tokens of appreciation and gratitude.