By Benjamin Cuaresma
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday signed a new cooperation agreement with Moscow covering tourism, trade, culture, education, and urban development, strengthening ties between the Philippine capital and the Russian city through 2028.
The partnership, signed alongside Moscow Minister for External Economic and International Relations Sergei Cheryomin, includes collaboration in tourism, transport infrastructure, healthcare, environmental protection, public safety, and social services.
Domagoso said the agreement is aimed at creating direct opportunities for Manileños through jobs, education, investment, and cultural exchange.
“Manila has always been a city that embraces the world. Through this partnership with Moscow, we celebrate the power of culture and the arts to unite nations and build lasting understanding across borders,” the mayor said.
He also invited Russian investors and tourists to explore Manila, highlighting the city’s rich history and growing economic potential.
“Please always come and invest in Manila. Visit our beautiful places, which are full of history and stories to tell. Come build something with us,” Domagoso said.
The mayor stressed that Manila’s massive daytime population of around three million people presents major urban challenges that international cooperation can help address.
Cheryomin noted that Moscow first entered into a partnership with Manila in 2023, becoming the first Russian region to formalize ties with the Philippine capital.
The new 2026–2028 cooperation program expands previous joint efforts in education, transport data sharing, zoo partnerships, and cultural exchanges, including performances by the Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Moscow also invited Manila officials to attend the International Municipal Forum in November, expected to gather over 100 countries and around 500 municipal leaders.
ia/xf
