QC, Mountain Province town forge historic sisterhood pact

Quezon City and the town of Sadanga in the Mountain Province have forged a historic pact that establishes the first-ever sisterhood tie between a premier city and a fifth class municipality.

The pact was formally signed by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Sadanga Mayor Gabino Ganggangan Friday at a luncheon tendered by Belmonte for the 91-man Sadanga delegation and city officials at the Shangri-La Restaurant in Quezon City.

The sisterhood pact between the two local government units is an offshoot of the peace accord entered into by the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) and the national government during the administration of President Corazon Aquino.

The CPLA, then headed by the late Conrado Balweg, entered into a truce after lengthy negotiations.

The negotiations were held at the Baguio residence of Belmonte, who was then head of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Ganggangan, on the other hand, who is the current secretary general of the CPLA, sat as technical adviser of the CPLA in the negotiations.

Belmonte said that it is but fitting to establish a sisterhood relationship between the two municipalities to pursue and perpetuate the historic peace accord.

"The pact is part of our commitment to advance the cause of goodwill and friendship as well as to show our Cordillera brothers that we respect them as equals," Belmonte said.

"We will extend to Sadanga our expertise in the fields of governance, science, commerce, tourism and education in its (Sadanga) quest for economic and social progress," he said.

Meanwhile, Ganggangan said the people of Sadanga were thrilled no end at the prospect of the newly established relationship.

"I could not even know how to express what we Sadangans feel right now," Ganggangan emotionally said during his speech.

"I find it hard to imagine a fifth class municipality like us being accepted as a sister town by the richest city in the Philippines," he said.

"Although we could not offer Quezon City anything in return, Sadanga humbly pledges its sincerity, hospitality and richness in culture," Ganggangan said.

The signing of the accord was followed by the symbolic exchange of keys and cultural presentations from the delegates of Sadanga.

The delegates were then taken to Malacañang to meet President Arroyo and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes. — PNA