Davao, Mersin sisterhood stalled

The forging of a sisterhood agreement between Davao City and Mersin City in Turkey may be delayed due to the transfer of lead proponent Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla.

Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said it was Guinomla who communicated to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the possibility of forging a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City. However, she said, Guinomla is now back in Davao City as the assistant secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Mindanao.

“We have been communicating with Ambassador Guinomla to fasttrack the Davao’s sisterhood with Turkey prior to his transfer to the city but we were only able to go as far as establishing the two city’s intention to forge the agreement,” she said.

Zozobrado said Guinomla’s presence in Turkey was one of the factors that could have hastened the forging of the sisterhood agreement since he already got the commitment of all heads during the First Conference of Heads of Philippine Honorary Consular Posts in Turkey. However, she said, they will try to work things out with the new Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and the other officials there who are willing to help out in establishing a relationship between Mersin and Davao.

“I have spoken with Assistant Secretary Guinomla and he is willing to help us in forging the agreement even if he is already based here,” Zozobrado said. At least we now have someone here in Davao who can help us out in establishing the sisterhood agreement, she added.

Mersin City is one of the ten largest cities in Turkey in terms of agricultural, industrial and commercial potential. It is considered the site of the largest port on the Turkish Mediterranean and is the center of maritime commerce in Turkey.

The proposed sisterhood with Turkey aims to foster mutual understanding through people to people exchanges, tourism promotion as well as trade and investment activities. Furthermore, she added, a sisterhood agreement between Mersin City and Davao City will strengthen the overall bilateral relations between Turkey and the Philippines.

Mersin City has existing sisterhood pacts with Latakia, Syria and Kushimoto, Japan.