CEBU, Philippines - The cities of Naga and Cabadbaran forged yesterday a sisterhood agreement at the Naga City Hall.
Naga was represented by Mayor Valdemar Chiong while Cabadbaran, a city in Agusan del Norte, was represented by Mayor Dale Corvera.
“What brings our city together is the common vision of making it achieve progress and bring it to greater heights for our people’s good and excellence,” said Chiong in his speech.
“The performance of a leader is not enough, it must have sincerity and unselfishness to share. I saw all these with Mayor Dale, it is why I have no reluctance and with open arms I agreed that we should forge ties with the City of Cabadbaran,” the mayor said.
He said “the sisterhood is not just an ordinary piece of document but an agreement that will seal our friendship and concretize the fight and struggle of Naga and Cabadbaran and the rest of the 14 cities.”
Chiong recalled their battle with the cityhood with the Supreme Court as a “very bloody one” in the sense of emotional, financial and mental.
Chiong said that although their cityhood has been finalized, they are “still sowing and strengthening what we have repead.”
“Becoming a city nowadays is a very steep task or goal. So let us not take this for granted and let this be our foundation to continue our work in achieving higher benefits and excellence for both cities,” he said.
Cabadbaran is one of the 16 cities, like Naga, affected by the cityhood Laws which constitutionality was assailed by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).
Naga had earlier forged ties with Batac, Ilocos Norte. (FREEMAN)