Cebu City sisterhood pact with Izmir, Turkey set

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is expected to enter into a sisterhood agreement with the second largest port city in Turkey after all the legal procedures to establish the twinning relationship have been finalized.

Mayor Michael Rama was recently informed by Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu of Izmir, Turkey that all the procedures have been put into place to pave the way for the formal signing of the pact.

“I believe that the friendship ties and mutual cooperation to be built between our cities in the fields of local governance, economic development as well as socio-cultural activities, tourism and fair organizations, will provide significant contribution to the convergence among our nations,” Kocaoglu said in his letter to Rama.

Izmir is a city in western Turkey and the third most populous city and the country’s second largest port city after Istanbul.

Kocaoglu invited Rama to visit his city to exchange views and to formally sign the sistership protocol.

Kocaoglu said “this opportunity will be an important step to strengthen the ties between our cities.” It was then mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is now the city’s South District Representative in Congress, who initiated the sister city project with Izmir.

Under the sistership protocol, the two cities encourage any cultural and social activities such as exhibitions and fairs that will keep the citizens of both countries to know their culture more closely and dialogues between various groups and committees of expert.

Also, they shall keep close touch and collaborate in the fields of local government services, education, health, sports, economy, trade, tourism, social and cultural affairs.

City Councilor Margot Osmeña, chairperson of the committee on tourism, said the city is interested to forge the sisterhood agreement. However, she still has to ask if there is a budget available for the travel to formally sign the sister city agreement.

Under the protocol, only the local hospitality and in-city travel expenses of the guest delegations shall be the responsibility of the host city while the other travel expenses shall be borne by the visitors. (THE FREEMAN)