DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and Mayor Jose S. Esteves of Milpitas City, California signed the renewal of sisterhood agreement between the cities of Dagupan and Milpitas for another five years at the City Hall of Milpitas on Oct. 7.

The signing was witnessed by Councilors Karlos Liberato E. Reyna IV, Alipio Serafin D. Fernandez and Alvin T. Coquia and the members of the Dagupeñians Association of America together with Milpitas Vice Mayor Althea Polanski and council members Debbie Indihar Giordano, Armando Gomez and Carmen Montano, all of Milpitas City.

Mayor Fernandez and Mayor Esteves signed the document renewing the 2009 agreement during the visit of the Dagupan delegation to Milpitas.

Fernandez accompanied the delegation of Manlinkor ya Kalangweran for a 7-day study tour to the USA, particularly, in Milpitas City.

The agreement signed in 2009 by Fernandez (then as vice mayor representing then Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.) and Milpitas City Mayor Robert Livengood in Milpitas was for a 5-year period renewable in 2014.

The initial sisterhood relationship between Dagupan and Milpitas started in 2003. It was City Administrator Alvin Fernandez, then the vice mayor, who signed the first sisterhood pact with Esteves, which was only for two years, renewable after every two years.

Esteves is a native of Dagupan who migrated in the U.S. in the early 70s.
The delegation of Dagupan students is composed of Leona Ericka Elegores (Francisco Q. Duque Special Science High School), Marguerite Marie Ferrer (Ednas School), David Justin Dawis (Dagupan City National High School), Jensen Rio Juarez (Saint John Catholic High School) and Kyle Patrick Ussher (Oakridge High School).

Since then, both cities endeavored to develop better and fruitful partnership by helping increase the city officials’ knowledge and understanding of effective management of different facets of city government operations; continuing the exchange of information and ideas that improved existing delivery systems used by both cities; encouraging and fostering goodwill and friendship visits of city officials and residents of both cities including the holding of cultural and student exchanges.

Fernandez expressed the hope that with the new agreement, Dagupan will be able to learn how Milpitas is managing its peace and order and public safety, its financial concerns and social services for the senior citizens.

“Indeed, it is great to be a sister city of Milpitas. We have the best experience!” Fernandez said after signing the new sisterhood agreement. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)

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