Roi
Anthoni B. Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY, Apr. 6 (PIA) – Dumaguete City looks forward to a
stronger ties with the Canadian government through sister city-agreement with
one of Canada’s cities.
This is one of the highlight discussions in an intimate meeting
with Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr.
and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder during the latter’s recent visit in the
city.
Reeder and his wife Irene Hassen-Reeder were in Dumaguete City on
March 30 as part of the Canadian Embassy’s advocacy and diplomacy work in
advancing and strengthening Philippine-Canada relationship through trade,
investments, tourism and immigration.
Key city officials headed by mayor Sagarbarria and vice-mayor
Maquiling welcomed Canadian Ambassador Reeder and his
wife through a fellowship gathering in their honor.
During the meeting, Sagarbarria expressed his hope in
strengthening relationship with Canada through a sister city-agreement which
was confirmed by Reeder.
The Canadian Ambassador also recommended Toronto, Calgary and
Alberta as possible cities for the sister city-agreement due to the number of
Filipino population in the mentioned cities.
Ambassador Reeder noted Dumaguete City’s tourism shows a
great potential for Canadian tourists. He also lauded the beauty and
orderliness of Dumaguete City as well as the hospitality of its people.
This was seconded by the data from the City Tourism Office. Based
on the 2014 report on the tourist arrivals in the city, Canadians rank 5th
among nationalities that visited the city with 2,396 arrivals in
2014. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr/with reports from KTAguilar of City Tourism
Office).