March 29, 2024

Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed elation that the San Antonio (Texas) City Council approved a sister city agreement with Baguio last May 11.

The mayor said the kinship accord provides the opportunity for collaborations and exchange of knowledge and skills on various fronts that will benefit and contribute to the growth of both cities.

The office of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced in a social media post their city council’s approval of the accord, saying “sister city relationships foster citizen-to-citizen connections while playing a role in economic development efforts, educational and cultural exchanges, and best practices and technical exchanges.”

The vote was said to have “authorized (Nirenberg) to execute the agreement, which he is expected to do during a July visit to Baguio.”

It can be recalled a delegation from Baguio headed by the mayor visited San Antonio in October last year where the two chief executives signed the “friendship city agreement to commemorate a burgeoning relationship.”

San Antonio City said friendship agreements are “precursors to sister city arrangements” and this special “sister city relationships foster citizen-to-citizen connections while playing a role in economic development efforts, educational and cultural exchanges, and best practices and technical exchanges.”

“There is broad recognition in international business and diplomatic circles that economic partnerships don’t just happen. They require lots of work and relationship building that happens at the civic level and citizen-to-citizen level – from educational and cultural exchanges to trade,” Nirenberg was quoted as saying. – Aileen P. Refuerzo