𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔, 𝐘𝐎𝐊𝐎𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN — The Cebu delegation led by Governor Pam S. Baricuatro and Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival marked another milestone in Cebu’s international sustainability efforts during a series of engagements in Yokohama focused on circular development, green transformation, and long-term environmental solutions.
The Yokohama visit forms part of the broader Tokyo trade and learning mission, where the Cebu delegation is exploring advancements in healthcare, disaster resilience, and waste segregation systems to help guide future innovations and policy directions for Cebu.
Hosted by a Yokohama delegation led by Mayor Dr. Takeharu Yamanaka and officials from the International Affairs Bureau, Governor Baricuatro and Mayor Archival also joined Mayor Yamanaka in a press conference highlighting the strengthened partnership between Cebu and Yokohama and their shared commitment to sustainable urban development.
As one of the founding members of the Asia Circular Cities Declaration, Cebu, with the support of Yokohama City, reaffirmed its commitment to addressing pressing urban challenges through sustainable and long-term solutions anchored on green and circular development.
Cebu City Mayor Archival formally handed over the declaration to the chair of ICLEI Japan, symbolizing Cebu’s active participation in global climate and sustainability initiatives.
𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
Governor Baricuatro expressed full support for the collaboration, noting that its benefits would extend beyond Cebu City to other localities across the province.
Yokohama, which has been assisting Cebu for the past decade, continues to serve as a key partner and guide in helping Cebu achieve sustainable development by sharing its experience, history, and best practices. Officials described the ongoing collaboration as an important step in translating global sustainability models into practical solutions for Cebu Island.
The event also marked another milestone for Cebu as the declaration and Cebu City’s founding membership are expected to pave the way for more cities and municipalities across the Province of Cebu to join similar initiatives.
This move is seen to open wider opportunities not only for knowledge exchange but also for access to international funding support from institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities at the Kanazawa Reclamation Industrial Area, where they studied systems designed to reduce environmental impact through advanced exhaust gas treatment and monitoring technologies. Representatives from JFE Engineering and Guun presented initiatives on heat and energy exchange with surrounding areas, showcasing how industrial collaboration supports decarbonization goals.
The Kanazawa Reclamation Industrial Area has developed into a GX (Green Transformation) zone where waste-to-energy industries and facilities are clustered to maximize heat and power exchange, embodying circular economy principles.
In her message, Governor Baricuatro expressed gratitude for Yokohama’s continued support and emphasized the importance of partnership in advancing Cebu’s sustainability agenda.
She added that commitment and collaboration have been key lessons learned through Cebu’s engagement with Yokohama over the past several months.
“As Governor of the Province of Cebu, together with Mayor Nestor Archival of Cebu City, we are here to reaffirm our commitment to continue strengthening collaboration between Cebu Island and the City of Yokohama — working together toward circular development and supporting Cebu City as a new founding member of the Asia Circular Cities Declaration,” Baricuatro said.
The governor also expressed optimism for continued cooperation, including participation in the upcoming Asian Smart Cities Conference this September, while extending an invitation for Yokohama officials to visit Cebu.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, in his message, expressed enthusiasm in the declaration and partnership, saying it will benefit a lot for the city and its residents, especially with the guidance of Yokohama and Japan as a whole who is a leader in innovation.
Joining the Cebu delegation were Provincial Board Members Stanley Caminero and Kerrie Keanne Shimura, officials from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and Fourth District Representative Sun Shimura, reflecting Cebu’s unified approach in pursuing international partnerships for sustainable development and innovation.
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