HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	77
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE HAWAII SISTER-STATE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATE/PROVINCE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE PROVINCE OF AKLAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii is actively seeking to expand its international ties and has an abiding interest in the developing goodwill, friendship, and economic relations between the people of Hawaii and the people of Asian and Pacific countries; and

 

     WHEREAS, as part of its effort to achieve this goal, Hawaii has established a number of sister-state relationships with provinces in the Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, because of the historical relationship between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines, there continue to exist valid reasons to promote international friendship and understanding for the mutual benefit of both countries to achieve lasting peace and prosperity as it serves the common interests of both countries; and

    

     WHEREAS, there are historical precedents exemplifying the common desire to maintain a close cultural, commercial, educational, and financial bridge between ethnic Filipinos living in Hawaii with their relatives, friends, and business counterparts in the Philippines, such as the previously established sister-city relationship between the City and County of Honolulu and the City of Cebu in the Province of Cebu; and

 

     WHEREAS, similar state-province relationships exist between the State of Hawaii and the Provinces of Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and Isabela, where cooperation and communication have served to establish exchanges in the areas of business, trade, education, agriculture and industry, tourism, disaster preparedness, beach restoration, sports, health care, social welfare, and other fields of human endeavor; and

 

     WHEREAS, a similar state-province relationship would reinforce and cement this common bridge for understanding and mutual assistance between ethnic Filipinos of both the State of Hawaii and the Province of Aklan, Republic of the Philippines; and 

 

     WHEREAS, the Province of Aklan has vast fertile land resources, fishery and fabric industries, the world renowned Boracay Island, and Aklan State University; and

 

     WHEREAS, the major industries of the Province of Aklan are agriculture, including sugarcane, corn, coconut, and rice; tourism; pina fabric; and materials for mats, pots, bags, fans, and décor; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Province of Aklan is emerging as a technological center in the Central Philippines with its growing business process outsourcing and other technology-related industries; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Province of Aklan is a top international tourist destination in the Republic of the Philippines, making the province much like Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that there is authorized and established a sister-state/province relationship, as advised by the Hawaii Sister-State Committee, between the State of Hawaii and the Province of Aklan, Republic of the Philippines; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor or the Governor's designee is requested to keep the Legislature fully informed of the process in establishing the sister-state/province relationship and involved in its formalization to the extent practicable; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of Aklan be afforded the privileges and honors that Hawaii extends to its sister-states and provinces; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if by June 30, 2020, the sister-state/province relationship with the Province of Aklan has not reached a sustainable basis by providing mutual economic benefits through local community support, the sister-state/province relationship shall be withdrawn; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, President of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, President of the Republic of the Philippines through its Honolulu Consulate General, Governor and Provincial Board of the Province of Aklan, Republic of the Philippines, Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Director of the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Chairperson of the Hawaii Sister-State Committee.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

State-Province Affiliation; Aklan Province