After establishing strong relations between Rustavi City of Georgia and Cauayan and Santiago Cities of the Philippines through a unique tri-partite sister-city relationship, Honorary Georgia Consul Thelmo Cunanan has finalized Georgia’ third sister-city in the Philippines and in Asia.
During his official visit to Georgia from May 23 – June 2, 2016, Consul Cunanan will witness the signing of the sister-city relationship between Telavi in Georgia and Laoag in the Philippines. Both cities will commit to working together in the areas of eco-tourism, commerce, public policy, education, and environment protection, among others. Like Telavi, which isne of the major wine centers of Georgia, Laoag is considered the wine capital of the Philippines and is well-known for the production of wine from sugar cane, rice, rose petals, and local wild berries.
“I am very confident about prospects between Telavi and Laoag,” said Consul Cunanan. “Both cities have very strong tourism potential and I am sure they will benefit greatly from close cooperation.” Consul Cunanan last year orchestrated and arranged the first official local government delegation from Georgia to the Philippines and Asia, when the team from Rustavi City visited sister-city Cauayan on the occasion of the latter’s 275th anniversary. Plans are underway for a reciprocal visit this year by officials of Cauayan and Isabela province.