Cebu, Korean province sign agreement on sisterhood

Officials of Gangwon, South Korea and the province of Cebu formally signed a sisterhood agreement last February 20 at the Gangwon Provincial Office.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that the “sisterhood relationship between the two provinces could not have come at a better time, now that Cebu has Koreans as the biggest bulk of tourists.”

“We look forward with great hope and optimism for areas of cooperation where both provinces will be able to achieve many projects beneficial to our people,” Garcia said.

Garcia also said that now that the agreement was formally signed, the two provinces will be inextricably linked.

As for Gangwon province Governor Kim Jin Sun, the agreement is “something that the two provinces should celebrate.”

In a press statement, Kim said that Gangwon and Cebu have shared mutual understanding and that this “special relationship will naturally help expand cooperation not just in tourism, as this encompasses all fields.”

Kim believes that by signing the agreement, he and Garcia have started to write a new page in the history of both provinces.

Other Capitol officials who were with Garcia during her seven-day trip to South Korea were amazed at the extent of the efforts exerted by Gangwon leaders to keep a record of its past showcasing the assets of their province.

“Seeing their museums has only reinforced the fact that Cebu is also very rich in history and culture and yet we have to do more to showcase this. We give credit to our local chief executives for slowly doing this, but we will push them to achieve more,” Provincial Board member Agnes Magpale, head of the committee on tourism, said.

The Gangwon International Relations Office, Tourism Office and the Office of the Governor had given the Cebu delegation, led by Garcia, a tour of places showing Gangwon’s wealth in terms of natural resources and heritage.

Gangwon housed the Cebu delegates in a mountain ski resort and took the officials to their “tree museum,” which showcased Gangwon’s efforts to preserve their forests.

The tree museum also highlights flora and fauna endemic to Gangwon.

PB member Victor Maambong said such could also be done here.

Gangwon officials have also shown interest to visit Cebu to officially explore areas of cooperation.

The Gangwon Provincial Council will send a delegation to Cebu sometime in April of this year to meet with members of the Provincial Board. -Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV