Philippine Ambassador Welcomes Minamimaki-mura Mayor To Celebrate 10 Years of Sister City Exchange
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Mayor Yoshito Arisaka of Minamimaki-mura reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Sister City Exchange Program between La Trinidad, Benguet, and Minamimaki-mura, Nagano Prefecture during their meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo on 25 April 2025.
TOKYO, 28 April 2025 – Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano warmly welcomed Mayor Yoshito Arisaka of Minamimaki-mura, Nagano Prefecture, and his delegation during their visit to the Embassy on 25 April 2025.
Ambassador Albano congratulated Mayor Arisaka on the 10th anniversary of the Sister City Exchange Program between La Trinidad, Benguet, and Minamimaki-mura, as well as the successful renewal of the sisterhood agreement signed in November 2024.
Since the establishment of the Sister City Exchange Program in 2014, La Trinidad and Minamimaki-mura have fostered collaboration in key areas, including:
• Agricultural development through technical assistance provided by Minamimaki-mura;
• Internship opportunities for young farmers from La Trinidad to train on farms in Minamimaki-mura;
• People-to-people exchanges across various sectors, notably in agriculture; and
• Information sharing in fields such as health and hygiene, environmental conservation, culture, trade, and tourism.
Looking to further expand the partnership, Mayor Arisaka proposed future initiatives such as the establishment of an exchange student program and the promotion of local Benguet products, including Benguet Arabica coffee, sunflower butter, and honey, in restaurants across Minamimaki-mura. In addition, Mayor Arisaka expressed interest in extending the cooperation to establish a “friendship relationship” with the municipalities of Tublay and Buguias in Benguet.
Ambassador Albano expressed her appreciation for Mayor Arisaka’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Philippines. She also shared her optimism for the future of the partnership, stating “The enduring friendship between La Trinidad and Minamimaki-mura has yielded meaningful collaboration over the past decade. We are excited to see this relationship grow, not only supporting employment opportunities in Japan but also enhancing farming systems in Benguet by adapting Japan’s advanced agricultural practices. Initiatives such as promoting Benguet’s finest products highlight the depth and potential of this partnership.”
Ambassador Albano further encouraged Minamimaki-mura to explore future visits to other Philippine agricultural hubs, such as Davao and Bukidnon.
She concluded by reaffirming the Philippine Embassy’s full support, through the Office of the Agriculture Attaché, in advancing bilateral cooperation to achieve food security and agricultural modernization for Minamimaki-mura and the municipalities of La Trinidad, Tublay, and Buguias in Benguet.
