FORGED TIES. Baybay City, Leyte Mayor Jose Carlos Cari and Guiuan, Eastern Samar Mayor Annaliza Kwan meet at the Guiuan town hall on Tuesday (Aug. 27, 2024). The two officials forged a sisterhood agreement to enhance local governance. (Photo courtesy of Baybay City LGU)
TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Guiuan in Eastern Samar and the city government of Baybay in Leyte forged on Tuesday a sisterhood partnership agreement to enhance local governance.
Baybay Mayor Jose Carlos Cari and Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Kwan signed the agreement and the memorandum of understanding at the Guiuan town hall.
The two local governments agreed on achieving their shared goals in the fields of local governance, economic trade and development, public safety, environmental sustainability and disaster preparedness, mitigation and response programs, and social welfare.
Through this partnership, Baybay hopes to gain an understanding of Guiuan's efficient tourism programs, while the city will provide technical assistance to the Eastern Samar town in adopting the barangay management information system and other initiatives.
“This sisterhood will enhance each other local governance in our respective localities and help each other in the aspect that we are winning,” Cari said.
In connection with the sisterhood ties, their local disaster risk reduction and management teams installed an ambient weather station at the Guiuan town hall.
The facility provides data such as wind, temperature, volume of rain, heat index, ultraviolet index, etc., which data will be useful in disaster preparedness emergency measures, especially during typhoon season.
In her message, Kwan shared the features of their town that they are proud of, such as eco and adventure tourism, a strong historical and heritage program, and abundant marine products.
Kwan added that with the partnership, her administration hopes to learn good practices from the Baybay city government that can be replicated in their municipality.
“We would like to learn from your solid waste management, local economic enterprise management, transportation, disaster response, investment promotion, and efficiency in delivering social services,” Kwan told Baybay local officials.
Prior to the signing of the twinning and sisterhood agreement, the members of the local economic development council and the town council members of Guiuan visited Baybay City for their benchmarking learning activity.
The group learned about the best practices and programs implemented by the local government that have significantly contributed to economic development. (PNA)
