Strong local governance cited as Dinagat
Islands seek sisterhood with Davao City

Davao City’s efficient local government and vibrant business sector is attracting a lot of cities and provinces, both locally and internationally, the latest of which is the Province of Dinagat Islands.

“The province has indicated their intention to form a sisterhood agreement with Davao City and we welcome this as another manifestation of Davao’s growth both socially and economically in the past years,” Council Committee on International Relations chair Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.

Davao City has been active in forging sisterhood agreements mostly with international cities like Manado and Bitung, Darwin, Uijeongbu and with local cities like San Juan.

The Province of Dinagat Islands is virtually a neighbor as it used to be part of the province of Surigao del Norte’s First District. However, Republic Act No, 9355 or the Official Charter of the Province of Dinagat Islands paved the way for the separation of Dinagat Islands, which is now known as the country’s 81st Province.

Zozobrado said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Dinagat Islands formally informed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about the proposal, through Resolution No. 08-768 sponsored by councilor Merlinda Lagroma, which indicates their intention to establish a “sisterhood relationship and alliance to the City of Davao.”

“The resolution requested Dinagat Islands Governor Geraldine Ecleo-Villaroman to establish a sisterhood agreement and alliance with Davao City in view of the tried and tested local governance of the city,” Zozobrado said.

The resolution indicated that “the province craves for support on technological advancement on legislative approaches and executive management”, the formula of which seems to have already been tried and tested in Davao City under Duterte’s administration.

Zozobrado said the sisterhood proposal from the Province of Dinagat Islands should be a source of pride for Dabawenyos considering that it came from a neighboring province which was previously part of Surigao del Norte in Region Xiii, Northeastern Mindanao.

”This is actually a vote of confidence that the local government of the city has done its job well and continues to do so, for it to be able to inspire nearby areas to forge a sisterhood agreement with us,” she said.

The Province of Dinagat Island is historically known as the site of the Battle of Surigao Strait during the Second World War. It was on the shore of the Municipality of Loreto where the first American flag flew on the Philippine soil. And just like Davao City, It is known for its bountiful harvest of agriculture and marine resources.