Yokohama may help Cebu City in water project

DESALINATION of Cebu City’s water may be a subject of assistance by the city of Yokohama, Japan.

Mitsu ru Kajimura, Yokahama city council member, said this will be explored as part of their Y-PORT project or Yokohoma-Partnership of Resources and Technologies (Y-PORT).

A Japanese delegation capped a three-day visit to Cebu City, where they met with officials and visited the Mahiga Creek, South Road Properties, and Inayawan Sanitary Landfill. The six Yokohama council men, three businessmen and one interpreter were in Cebu from July 3 to July 5.

Cebu City will host the first Japanese Festival in August, said Ryan Necitas Echevarria, protocol officer of City Hall.

The next international sister partnership will be with the city of Icmir in Turkey later this year.

The mayor was authorized by the Cebu City Council last June 20 to sign Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Cebu City was chosen a strategic partner in technical cooperation by Yokohama City under a March 2012 memorandum of understanding.

Yokohama will offer technical advice in promoting eco-city development. Both cities will exchange information and strengthen ties with the government, private sector and academic organizations.

The agreement is valid until March 2015.

Yokohama has sister-friendship ties with Manila aside from San Diego (USA), Lyon (France), and Mumbai (India). /Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao