Zambo to forge sisterhood pact with 2 Chinese cities

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Local officials here were brave to sail across the disputed West Philippine Sea to enter into sisterhood pact with two cities in China this week.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, who led the 12-man city officials and 70 private sector representatives, said the twinning will be held at the sideline of the 12th China-ASEAN Expo.

Salazar said they will have the sisterhood pact with two Chinese cities, Zhoushan and Guigang.

She said Zhoushan City in Zheijang province is one of China’s special economic zones, with fishing as its number one source of employment. Guigang in Guangxi province is a first level port city, with major industries such as construction, power, sugar, paper and transportation.

Salazar said the sisterhood pact with will not be detrimental to the Philippines’ claim over the disputed West Philippines Sea or South China Sea.

“We realized that we cannot live in isolation as the city of Zamboanga progresses,” Salazar said when asked about the possible repercussion of the twinning agreement.

She said the twinning agreement earned the nod of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in compliance with the requirements of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Salazar cited that even President Benigno Aquino III appealed not to close the doors on trade and investment and economic opportunities with other international countries during his visit to the ASEAN meeting.

She said the city has to seize the opportunity for development due to its slow tourism growth caused by the bloody 2013 siege.

“This is an opportunity for us to sail across the sea and brave the disputed international waters for as long as it will be beneficial to the people without giving up the right of the West Philippine Sea,” Salazar said.