Cebu City government eyes sisterhood ties with South Africa

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government is seeking to forge sisterhood agreement with South Africa.

The city government shared the development after Ambassador-designate Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe of the Republic of South Africa to the Philippines paid a courtesy call on Mayor Edgardo Labella yesterday.

Lawyer Jerone Castillo, special assistant to the mayor, welcomed Netshitenzhe on behalf of the mayor.

He said there was a discussion on establishing a “sister-city relationship” between Cebu City and South Africa.

“This is the first with South Africa. Cebu City and South Africa share so much history and so many things in common. So this will be history again,” said Castillo.

Castillo said the idea came about during the discussion with South Africa about history, colonization, and how it overcame problems and became a progressive one.

“We have a good leadership, and they also have a good leadership, and maybe on this basis we can collaborate and strengthen the relationship between the cities of South Africa and Cebu City,” Castillo said.

Once materialized, he said, the South Africa will appoint an honorary consul.

The consul, he said, will base in Cebu City and not in Manila where most consuls are assigned.

The sisterhood ties, Castillo said, would enable Cebu City and South Africa to venture into cultural exchanges and to share knowledge and strategies that could improve the socio-economic conditions of their constituents, among others.

Their business groups could also have chamber to chamber discussions, he added.

“They (South Africa) are a growing economy, we (Cebu City) are a growing economy, we (Cebu City and South Africa) have so much potential to collaborate in terms of business and economic activities,” said Castillo.  KQD (FREEMAN)