THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

8

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE REESTABLISHMENT OF STATE-PROVINCE RELATIONS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has an abiding interest in 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 agreements with provinces in the Pacific region that have served to establish exchanges in the areas of business, trade, agriculture and industry, tourism, sports, health care, social welfare, and other fields of human endeavor; and

 

     WHEREAS, H.C.R. No. 17, H.D. 1, adopted by the Hawaii Legislature in 2003 and executed by the Governor in 2004, established a state-province agreement between the State of Hawaii and the Province of Ilocos Norte in the Republic of the Philippines until July 1, 2008; and

 

     WHEREAS, the state-province relationship has paved the way for mutual understanding and cooperative efforts in the fields of education, health, tourism, agriculture, socio-economic endeavors, environment, energy, culture, and the arts; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a historical relationship between the Province of Ilocos Norte and the State of Hawaii because several notable citizens in Hawaii can trace their roots or have immigrated from the Province of Ilocos Norte; and

 

WHEREAS, because of this historical relationship, there are valid reasons to promote international friendship and understanding for the mutual benefit of both countries to achieve lasting peace and prosperity; and

 

     WHEREAS, Governor Imee R. Marcos, Province of Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines, has launched the "bicentennial movement" to start the countdown to the 200th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Ilocos Norte in February 2018, inspired by certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that Ilocos Norte is the first fully ISO-certified province in the Philippines, a sign that the province is moving toward global competitiveness; and

 

     WHEREAS, reestablishing a state-province agreement would reinforce the bridge for understanding and mutual assistance and would allow Ilocanos in the State of Hawaii to be honored during the bicentennial celebration that will attest to the province's resiliency and industry; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that the Governor, or the Governor's designee, is requested to take all necessary actions to reestablish a state-province affiliation with the Province of Ilocos Norte in the Republic of the Philippines; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor, or designee, is requested to keep the Legislature fully informed of the process in reestablishing the relationship, and involved in its formalization to the extent practicable; and

 

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

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Hawaii's congressional delegation, Governor, President of the Republic of the Philippines through its Honolulu Consulate General, and Governor and Provincial Board of the Province of Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

State-Province Relationship with Ilocos Norte, Philippines