By
Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag City—Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here have
initiated moves to revive the Ilocos Norte-Hawaii sisterhood ties to further promote
tourism and allow Hawaiian-Ilocanos to rediscover their roots as part of the
bicentennial celebration of Ilocos Norte in 2018.
On Jan.
12, Draft Provincial Resolution No. 2015-01-087, requesting Governor-elect
David Ige of the State of Hawaii in the United States of America to revive
talks with their counterparts in Hawaii and the Ilocano community there to
re-establish the sisterhood ties with the new set of elected government
officials of Hawaii has been unanimously passed for first reading at the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall.
SP member
Da Vinci Crisostomo, sponsor of said resolution jointly with Vice Governor
Angelo Marcos Barba and the committee of the whole said the re-establishment of
the sister state-province relationship hopes to encourage more
Hawaiian-Ilocanos to rediscover their roots in Ilocos Norte.
According
to Mr. Crisostomo, talks had been initiated by their counterparts in Hawaii and
once the resolution is approved, balikbayans
from Hawaii who are currently in the province will personally hand over the
resolution to the Hawaii governor on their way back to the Aloha state.
In
2004, then Ilocos Norte Governor and now Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos
Jr. and then Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed a sisterhood agreement between
Ilocos Norte and Hawaii.
The
Ilocos Norte-Hawaii sisterhood ties is expected to open new opportunities and
strengthen the exchange of practices, promoting sustainable agriculture and
education excellence, including tourism and cultural activities.
As
the provincial government of Ilocos Norte continue to bring in big time
investors to do business in the province, special incentive packages are also
being offered for balikbayan for them
to start business in the province.
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