Cebu, Masbate forge sisterhood ties

MANILA, Philippines - Masbate is the newest sister-province of Cebu.

This, as Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon Lanete signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last Monday to establish sisterhood ties between the two provinces to broaden areas of cooperation.

The sisterhood agreement was signed during the annual Rodeo Masbateño Festival in Masbate City, witnessed by the provincial board members and mayors of both provinces and the congressmen of Masbate.

Masbate is now acknowledged as the “Rodeo Capital of Asia.”

Prior to the signing of the MOU, Cebu and Masbate have been working together with the provinces of Iloilo and Negros Occidental in protecting the Visayan Sea to preserve and rehabilitate its rich marine resources.

In her speech during the signing of the MOU, Garcia said she was privileged to visit Masbate for the first time.

For her part, Lanete said that since Cebu and Masbate now enjoy sisterhood ties, her province would learn from and apply the “best practices” of Cebu.

Garcia said the direct link connecting the two provinces from Polambato in Bogo City to Cataingan in Masbate has provided access to commerce, agriculture and business between Cebuanos and Masbateños.

She said the MOU would open more exchanges between the two provinces.

“We need the products of Masbate…,” she said, adding that Cebu could be the processing center of the local cattle industry to help uplift it.

Under the agreement, both provinces will formulate their respective annual action programs to boost exchanges, especially on public governance.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala also graced the annual Rodeo Masbateño Festival and presided over the ceremonial branding of cattle along with Garcia and Lanete. – Freeman News Service