A sister city relationship between Bacolod City and Tahara City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, has been proposed.
A group from Tahara City met with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the Bacolod City Government Center on Tuesday, September 19.
The delegation headed by Yasuo Matsumoto and Sugiura Fujiko are asking if Bacolod is willing to enter into a sisterhood relationship, Benitez said.
Benitez said Tahara City that has a population of about 60,000 is where upscale Lexus cars are manufactured.
They would like to open job opportunities for caregivers, drivers, workers in agricultural plantations from Bacolod, the mayor said.
Nihongo language classes will be conducted in Bacolod for the fielding of possible workers in Tahara City, he said.
A delegation from Bacolod would also have to visit Tahara City, he said.
“The sister city arrangement is supposed to open up mutually beneficial economic and cultural opportunities. In particular, we are looking at job opportunities that will be extended resulting from the collaboration as well as explore possible investment opportunities in Bacolod,” Dr. Mae Llamas, head of the Bacolod Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, said.*