Cebu City, Himamaylan sign sisterhood pact

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental have formally united under a sisterhood agreement, a partnership designed to strengthen cooperation, share best practices, and foster inclusive development.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. signed the pact during a ceremony at a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City attended by officials and delegates from both cities.

The Cebu City Council, through Resolution No. 17-3024-2026, authorized Archival to negotiate and sign the agreement following a legal review that affirmed its compliance with the Local Government Code of 1991.

The Himamaylan City Council likewise passed Resolution No. 2025B-027 granting Tongson authority to formalize the partnership.

The resolutions highlighted the potential for enhanced investment opportunities and inclusive growth through the collaboration.

“Kini nga kasabutan dili lang pirma sa usa ka dokumento. It is a commitment to work together, share best practices, strengthen local governance, and create more opportunities that will benefit our people,” Archival said.

He added that the sisterhood would open avenues for cooperation in governance, environmental protection, tourism, culture, disaster resilience, and economic development.

“I believe that when local governments support one another, we become stronger and more capable of delivering quality public service,” Archival said.

Tongson, for his part, emphasized the practical benefits of the partnership.

“What began with friendship has grown into a formal commitment to bring our cities closer and create real opportunities for our people,” he said.

He noted that the agreement would facilitate exchanges in tourism, trade, education, health, urban development, sports, and social services.

“Two cities stood at one table. From here, Cebu and Himamaylan 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 declared.

The ceremony drew support from Cebu Sister Cities Commission Executive Director Grace Sheila Avanzado, Cebu City Councilor Nyza Archival, and Himamaylan officials, including Engr. Jovil Zayco, Atty. Sarah Villamor, and City Mayor’s Office staff Mina Juson and Bernadette Florentino.

Both mayors expressed gratitude to their teams and stakeholders who worked behind the scenes to make the agreement possible.

For Cebu City, the pact adds to its expanding network of sister city relationships, while for Himamaylan, it represents a strategic opportunity to collaborate with one of the country’s most dynamic urban centers.

As Archival put it, “Through this partnership, we look forward to collaborating in areas that will uplift our communities.”

Tongson echoed, “May God guide this sisterhood and give us the strength to fulfill that promise.”

With the agreement now sealed, Cebu and Himamaylan move forward with a shared vision to transform cooperation into tangible progress that will benefit their people for generations to come. — (FREEMAN)