DILG orders inventory of sister city agreements with China

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday ordered an inventory of sister city agreements between local government units (LGUs) of the Philippines and China.

Remulla issued the directive after six lawmakers filed a resolution urging the Department of the Interior and Local Government to look into the sister city arrangements with Chinese cities as it could be detrimental to the country’s national security amid its territorial dispute with China on the West Philippine Sea.

“I’ll look into it. We are getting an inventory,” he said in a message on Viber.

Those who signed the resolution are Reps. Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal party-list, Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña and Darah Kiram Ismula of Akbayan, Arlene Bag-ao of Dinagat Island and Albay 1st District Rep. Krisel Lagman.

“This however will be a DFA, DNA and NICA issue,” Remulla said, referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Among these LGUs is Davao City, which has a sister city agreement with Tai’an municipal people’s government. Another is Laoag in Ilocos Norte, which has a sisterhood agreement with Huangshan City.