PUGO, La Union – Local officials of this municipality and their counterparts from Besao, Mountain Province vowed to closely work together to enhance the status of their towns through partnerships that will bring their localities to greater heights.
The commitment was made by Mayor Priscilla M. Martin and Besao Mayor Johnson Bantog II during the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a sisterhood relationship between the two municipalities held Thursday morning at the municipal hall here.
The twinning relationship with Besao is the first sisterhood relationship established by Pugo in the first ten months of the incumbency of Mayor Martin as a first-term local chief executive of the fifth-class municipality.
“We are elated that we were able to establish this twinning relationship with a municipality which is close to our heart,” Martin stressed.
On his part, Mayor Bantog reiterated the Besao local government will surely treasure the established sisterhood ties because it will open opportunities for inter-local government exchanges that will boost the overall growth and development of both localities.
Earlier, the Pugo municipal council enacted Resolution No. 2017-37 which tendered the establishment of a twinning relationship between the Municipality of Besao, Mountain Province and Pugo, La Union.
In return, the Besao municipal council enacted Resolution No. 2017-18 warmly accepting the proposal of the Municipality of Pugo, La Union for the establishment of a sisterhood relationship with the Municipality of Besao, Mountain Province.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the local officials of both towns agreed to reciprocally plan and sanction programs geared towards the development/improvement/enhancement of government administration, tourism, cultural preservation, environmental protection, education, technology, arts and the holding of various endeavours mutually beneficial to both parties.
Further, the parties agreed to promote each other’s assets by reciprocal exchanges of brochures and other tourism materials in each other’s locality; and promoting tours of each other’s places of interest.
Witnessing the signing of the agreement for Pugo were Vice Mayor Isidro G. Dacpano and Councilors Juvenal Basallo, Jerry Jason Lales, Winston Boado, Michelle Boadilla-Lales, Romulo Tavares, Manuel Mapalo, Jeffrey Leprozo, Romeo Tagabeng and Gregorio Orine while those who witnessed for Besao were Vice-Mayor June Lopsoten and Councilors Elizabeth Buyagan, Gerry Caysoen, Alfredo Beyden, Henry Bosigen, PolicarpioPekas, Sr., William Beswilan, Cayetano Liwaliw, Go Martin and Lunes Ladip.
Also present during the signing ceremonies were the department heads and selected staff from the two local governments who took the time to share their best practices with each other as part of the sisterhood ties.
By HENT
