Rustavi City, Georgia – A tripartite agreement for cooperation and friendship between the Philippine cities of Cauayan and Santiago and the Georgian city of Rustavi was approved by the latter’s officials on June 6, 2014. The agreement was signed by Mr. Kakha Baratashvili, the Acting Chairman of the Self-Governing City Council, in the presence of his fellow council members at Rustavi city hall. Signing as witness was Honorary Consul of Georgia in the Philippines, Thelmo Luis O. Cunanan Jr., who initiated the project.
This is the FIRST agreement of its kind between Georgian and Philippine cities and the FIRST between Georgia and a country in Southeast Asia. Based on the agreement, the cities will commit to cultural and technological exchanges and cooperation in tourism, urban development, trade and industry, sports development, environmental protection, social services and health, technical training and education, among others.
After the ceremony, which was covered by television and print media, Consul Cunanan attended a luncheon with the council members to discuss possible projects to strengthen ties between the three cities. Upon returning to Manila, Consul Cunanan will meet with Cauayan City Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy and Santiago Mayor Joseph Tan for signing by the Philippine side.
Santiago, with a population of 132,804 people, is an independent component city and the gateway to Cagayan Valley, while Cauayan, with a population of 122,335 people, is a component city of Isabela province, the Agro-Industrial Capital of Cagayan Valley, and the Central Business District of Region 2.
Rustavi, on the other hand, is the third largest city in Georgia, with 120,800 residents. It is located in southeast part of the country, in the province of Kvemo Kartli, situated 25 kilometers southeast of the capital Tbilisi. A booming agroindustrial center, Rustavi is strategically-located between Tbilisi and the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The city has a multi-ethnic population and places great emphasis on religious and racial tolerance.
