Iloilo City Marks Sister-City Ties with Fort Lauderdale

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, signed a sister-city agreement Monday evening, June 23 (Philippine time), to boost development through international cooperation.

The ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding was conducted virtually by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod authorized Treñas to enter the agreement via Resolution No. 2025‑518, approved May 28, 2025.

A copy of the agreement circulated by Treñas’s office states the purpose as promoting mutual understanding, goodwill and establishing socio‑cultural and economic bilateral relations.

The agreement outlines eight key provisions, including establishing regular communication channels and forming technical working groups or appointing focal persons for ongoing discussions.

It also calls for information exchange on revenue strategies, socio‑cultural activities, fiscal management, emergency medical care, and public education.

The MOU plans programs to facilitate knowledge exchange in areas such as investment, disaster management, culture, health, education and local governance.

It commits to organizing cultural and business exchanges, including art and science events, to foster common prosperity.

Activities will also advance the economic, social, cultural and political interests of both cities.

The cities will prioritize government management areas such as disaster risk reduction, tourism, economic development, investment and environmental initiatives.

The agreement encourages joint activities—such as publicizing the sister‑city relationship, exchanging cultural tokens, arranging visits, and exploring a friendship day.

In a press release, Treñas said the agreement would elevate the city’s global standing and support local inclusive growth.

“We are excited about this sisterhood as it opens new doors for our beloved Iloilo City and our new sister city, Fort Lauderdale. This partnership provides a meaningful platform for open communication, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices that will greatly benefit both our communities,” he said.

Fort Lauderdale, a coastal city in southeastern Florida, is Iloilo City’s 22nd international sister city and 43rd overall.

It lies in Broward County, part of the Miami metropolitan area, which includes Florida’s most populous counties: Miami‑Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

The Pew Research Center cited Florida as one of five U.S. states with large Filipino populations, estimated at 180,000—second only to Nevada among states outside California, Hawaii and Texas.