HR51.DOC

WHEREAS, the promotion of international friendship and understanding is essential to achieving lasting peace and prosperity for citizens of all countries, including the United States; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a particular interest in maintaining historical ties while promoting friendship and goodwill with the Philippines since Hawaii is home to a substantial Filipino community whose members make significant contributions to the State's economy and culture and who maintain close cultural, financial, and familial ties with relatives, friends, and colleagues in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's state and local governments often face policy matters, including issues regarding land use, conservation of environmental and natural resources, use of alternative and renewable energy sources, water and sewage management, juvenile justice, education, public health, mass transportation, housing, and tourism that are also of concern to the local governments of the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, the League of Cities of the Philippines is the official organization of Philippine cities created by the Eighth Congress of the Philippines under Republic Act 7160, also known as the Local Government Code, on October 10, 1991; and

WHEREAS, for more than twenty years, the League of Cities of the Philippines has been a vital force in protecting the interests of cities and has served as the unified voice of cities advocating policies for continuing genuine local autonomy; and

WHEREAS, the League of Cities of the Philippines has also remained actively committed to seeking opportunities locally and internationally for cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, culture, education, health, tourism, and environmental protection for the purposes of economic and social development of cities in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii and the League of Cities of the Philippines share the common goal of fostering strong and effective local governments by developing relationships to share knowledge and capacities; and

WHEREAS, in the furtherance of this goal, the State of Hawaii and the League of Cities of the Philippines have drafted a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation to reinforce the political, social, and economic relationships between its parties; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, that the Legislature recognizes the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the State of Hawaii and the League of Cities of the Philippines and acknowledges the importance of implementing practical strategies to fulfill its objectives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Republic of the Philippines; United States Embassy Manila; Governor of the State of Hawaii; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Mayor of the County of Kauai; Mayor of the County of Maui; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Executive Director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Department of Interior and Local Government of the Philippines; President of the League of Cities of the Philippines; President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; and Chair of the Honolulu Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

League of Cities of the Philippines; Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	51
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII