PH-Aus Friendship Week starts today

THE kick-off ceremony of Philippines-Austraila Friendship Week will be held today at the weekly flag-raising ceremony of the city government employees.

Visitors from Austraila and Austraila's Deputy Head of Mission (DHOM) to the Phlippines Mat Kimberley are expected to come during the proclamation program with the city department heads led by Davao City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez.

Aside from the proc- lamation program, Kimberley is also expected to visit to the Department of Education Region 11's National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) located along Quirino Avenue at 1 p.m.

She will also visit the Brigada Eskwela at Palma Gil Elementary School.

Just last week, city mayor Sara Z. DuterteCarpio issued on May 15 a proclamation declaring May 21 to 27 as Philippine-Australia Friendship

week in the city of Davao.

Duterte-Carpio said this was declared in conjunction with the Presidential Proclamation 1862 series of 2016 that declared the 22nd of May of each year as Philippine-Australia Friendship day to celebrate the long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries; and in recognition of the enduring friendship between the Commonwealth of Australia and the city of Davao.

"The City Government of Davao recognizes the enduring friendship between the two countries, working together closely on the implementation of programs in the fields of livelihood and security, as well as the promotion of social conscience and good governance among its people," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor, through the proclamation, said Australia has also been instrumental in developing Davao City's human resources through various education and capacity development initiatives, in partnership with the local government unit and the private sector, paving way for the growth and development of the city's business, tourism, and agricultural sectors.