ILOILO CITY — The provinces of Iloilo and South Cotabato formalized a sisterhood agreement on June 17, 2026, at the Casa Real de Iloilo Grand Social Hall. Governors Arthur Defensor Jr. and Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. signed the memorandum of understanding, pledging deeper cooperation in agriculture, tourism, commerce, and economic development.
A Pact Sealed in Heritage and Ambition
The agreement positions both provinces to leverage their distinct strengths for mutual gain. Iloilo brings a robust agricultural base and expanding service sector, while South Cotabato offers rich agro‑industrial resources and strategic access to the SOCCSKSARGEN region. Together, they aim to create a corridor of shared prosperity.
Governor Tamayo led a high‑level delegation that included Vice Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. and several Sangguniang Panlalawigan board members. Their presence signaled that the partnership carries full legislative weight and long‑term institutional commitment. The agreement is backed by South Cotabato’s Ordinance No. 48, Series of 2026, which authorized the governor to formalize the alliance.
Bridging Two Economic Powerhouses
South Cotabato views the partnership as a catalyst for strengthening its agro‑industrial value chains and logistics networks. By linking with Iloilo’s established distribution channels and port infrastructure, the province can move its high‑yield crops more efficiently to domestic and international markets. This collaboration is expected to reduce transport costs and open new revenue streams for farmers.
Iloilo, meanwhile, seeks to broaden its development programs beyond its traditional strongholds. The province will share best practices in agricultural technology, investment promotion, and tourism planning. The exchange of expertise is designed to accelerate innovation in both localities without reinventing the wheel.
Roots That Run Deep
Beyond economics, the sisterhood rests on a foundation of shared ancestry. Governor Tamayo, who also serves as national president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, noted that his own family traces its roots to Iloilo’s first district. Generations of Hiligaynon speakers have migrated to South Cotabato, weaving a common cultural thread.
This human connection transforms the agreement from a bureaucratic document into a reunion of kin. Many residents of South Cotabato still speak Hiligaynon and maintain family ties to Panay Island. The pact honors this history while building a future of collaboration that feels natural rather than forced.
From Policy to Action Plans
The partnership is not merely symbolic. Both provinces intend to integrate cooperative initiatives into their respective Annual Investment Programs, ensuring that projects receive dedicated funding. Priority areas include harmonizing maritime and air‑cargo links between Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, and streamlining disaster response resource‑sharing.
The groundwork was laid through earlier benchmarking visits, including a courtesy call by Governor Defensor to South Cotabato and a study mission by Tupi’s Municipal Assessor’s Office to Iloilo. These exchanges allowed both sides to identify specific public service systems worth replicating. The sisterhood agreement formalizes and expands those initial explorations.
A Model for Interprovincial Cooperation
This marks Iloilo’s second sisterhood agreement of 2026, following a pact with San Juan City in Metro Manila last January. The growing network of alliances reflects a strategic push to transcend regional isolation and build coalitions that amplify local voices in national development conversations.
For South Cotabato, the partnership opens a window to Western Visayas markets. For Iloilo, it reinforces its role as a hub of governance excellence and cultural bridge. As other provinces observe the fruits of this alliance, similar agreements may follow, redefining how Philippine local government units pursue inclusive growth.
