CONCEPCION, Tarlac (June 22, 2023) — In what might be unprecedented town twinnings between Tarlac municipalities – Concepcion, Bamban, Capas, and La Paz simultaneously signed a sisterhood pact today.
Mayors from the four neighboring municipalities signed a Memorandum of Agreement – between and among each other – to foster mutual friendship and goodwill, nurture closer relationships among their peoples, and ensure social and cultural exchanges and economic ties between them and their constituents.
The host town of Concepcion mayor, Noel Villanueva, Alice Guo of Bamban, Roseller Rodriguez of Capas, and Venus Jordan of La Paz were in attendance.
Governor Susan Yap, Vice-Governor Carlito David, 2nd Congressional District Representative Christian Yap, and 3rd Congressional District Representative Bong Rivera were also in attendance, in addition to the vice-mayors, councilors, and barangay captains from the four towns.
After welcoming the provincial and municipal officials, Mayor Villanueva underscored the importance of unity.
“Napaka-simple lang ng mensahe ng Sisterhood Agreement na ito: Matibay kapag nagkabigkis-bigkis. Para lang tayong walis, pwede tayong baliin kung tayo ay isa-isa lamang, pero kapag pinagbigkis mo, singtibay po iyan ng walis.
“Ang layunin ng Sisterhood Agreement sa ating mga bayan-bayan – kung meron ako, hindi ko ipagkakait sa aking kapatid na bayan. Kung kailangan ng bayan ng La Paz ang aking mga kagamitan dahil siya ay – huwag naman sanang mangyari – na palaging lumulubog ang La Paz (at) kailangan niya ang backhoe ng munisipyo ng Concepcion, kailangan niya ang bulldozer, pwede kong ipadala doon,” Villanueva said.
The agreement signed between and among the four towns was in accordance with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 1994 Memorandum – “Local Government Units may, through appropriate ordinances, group themselves, consolidate, or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes of commonly beneficial to them.”
Meanwhile, Governor Yap lauded Rep. Rivera for his role in the town twinnings.
“Ang kanyang (Rep. Rivera) objective is to help each municipality dito sa pangatlong distrito. Na kung ano ang problema ng isang bayan, tulung-tulong tayong maghahanap ng solusyon. Tulung-tulong nating i-resolve. I think that is a very comnndable gesture.”
The governor also said that the future is bright in the Third District of Tarlac.
“What’s important is magkaisa lalung-lalo na sa Tersera Distrito. Your future is so bright and prosperous. … Ang Third District, its prospect for development has exceeded that of the city that you will see in the coming future,” Yap said.
