The delegation from Rustavi City—the first Georgian local government delegation to the Philippines and Asia—led by Rustavi Council Deputy Chairman Gocha Shavadze and Honorary Georgian Consul Thelmo Cunanan Jr., and joined by Teona Galogra, Head of Rustavi Economics Department; Rustavi Councilors Merab Sulaberidze and Davit Skhirtladze; and Georgian Consulate Public Relations Director Melissa Dizon, paid a formal courtesy call on Isabel Governor Faustino Dy III. Cauayan City belongs to Isabela, while Santiago is an independent component city of the province.

Governor Dy received the delegation in the provincial capitol building, where he gave the group a tour of his offices and working facilities and engaged the Georgians in a meaningful discussion on local government best practices. He also gave the group an overview of the province and its economic resources and his major projects to develop infrastructure and business ties with other provinces and countries.

The Georgians, on the other hand, shared their own experiences in Rustavi and noted the similarities and differences between local government policies in the Philippines and in Georgia.

“I am very happy that Rustavi has linked up with Cauayan and our independent component city of Santiago. Being a son of Isabela, I am proud that we have now established sister-city relationships with Europe. This is a first for my province,” said Governor Dy. “Thank you to Rustavi for this bond of friendship and to Consul Cunanan for his endeavours in bringing the two countries together.”

Mr. Shavadze’s and Consul Cunanan’s invitation to Governor Dy to visit Georgia after the Philippines elections in 2016 was very well-received by the latter, who instructed his staff to begin planning and organizing the official delegation from Isabela. For his part, Consul Cunanan praised Governor Dy for his excellent stewardship of the province and committed to work on a sister-province relationship between Isabela and its counterpart Kvemo Kartli.

The Georgians later gifted Mr Dy with fine saperavi wine from the Kakheti region and a traditional ceremonial Georgian dagger, which the governor immediately put on display on his desk.

Afterwards, Governor hosted a sumptuous banquet for the Georgian delegation, together with the senior officials of the provincial government, at the official provincial guesthouse.