The Province of Cebu and Province of Albay signed a landmark memorandum of agreement establishing their sisterhood relations on the sidelines of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival showcase on Sunday, August 27, in Carcar City.
Gov. Gwen Garcia represented Cebu Province and Gov. Edcel Lagman represented Albay Province in the agreement signing.
It was witnessed by top national officials, including First Lady Liza Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Senators Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid -- who were in Carcar to witness the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2023.
Under the sisterhood agreement, Cebu and Albay would explore possible areas of cooperation in the fields of tourism, agriculture, education, manufacturing, culture, economic and social development, trade promotion, investments, technological transfer, and environmental protection policies, among others.
As a sign of goodwill and appreciation, Cebu will build in Albay one Tourist Rest Area whose specifications would adhere to the standards of the Department of Tourism. In turn, Albay would allow Cebuano products to be marketed and sold in the TRA.
The agreement solidifies the formal cooperation ad collaboration between the two provinces.
Albay is a progressive province in the Bicol Region located on the southeastern part of Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City, the regional center of the whole Bicol Region, which is located in the southern foothill of the picture-perfect Mayon Volcano. | Carlo Lorenciana
