TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial governments of Northern Samar and Benguet identified 10 areas of cooperation for their proposed sisterhood agreement, which is up for signing in January next year.
Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), said in a phone interview Friday that technical working groups (TWGs) from the two provinces convened in La Trinidad, Benguet on Nov. 21 to outline key areas of collaboration.
“The sisterhood pact aims not only to strengthen the friendship between the two provinces but also to establish a dynamic avenue for exchanging ideas and best practices in various fields,” Berbon said.
These fields are tourism development, agriculture enhancement, local economic enterprise, information and technology, urban planning and development, socio-cultural activities, income-generation strategies, fiscal management, health care facilitation, and public education improvement, among other aspects of local governance beneficial to both local governments.
“This partnership is a powerful step forward for the improvement of both provinces. It represents a commitment to progress and development, particularly in the identified areas that will drive long-term benefits for the people,” Berbon added.
The identification of areas of collaboration came more than two months after Benguet’s board members and department heads arrived in Northern Samar for a benchmarking visit to learn from and replicate the province’s best practices in facilitating and promoting investments.
Northern Samar, through its Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, has implemented innovative strategies that brought billions of investments to the province, particularly in alternative energy. (PNA)