Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
YSEALI fellow from the Philippines shares city planning, disaster work and asks council to consider sister‑city ties
Loading...
Summary
Leah Lagba, a Young Southeast Asian Leaders program fellow placed in Saginaw, described Zamboanga City’s geography, flood and landslide risks, and her involvement in local climate and mangrove initiatives, and asked the council to consider a sister‑city exchange to support reciprocal projects.
Leah Lagba, a Young Southeast Asian Leaders professional fellow from the Philippines, told the Saginaw City Council about her work in Zamboanga City and asked the council to consider a sister‑city relationship that could enable reciprocal exchanges.
Lagba said her fellowship began March 16 and runs through April 10, and that during her placement she has taken part in parks board meetings, public‑works site visits, police ride‑alongs, library programs and volunteer work at the senior center and animal shelter. “I am really grateful to have been placed in Texas, Saginaw particularly,” she said, and later asked the council to “consider making us your sister city.”
The fellow ran through a short briefing on Zamboanga City’s geography and hazards, including flood‑susceptible coastal barangays, landslide‑prone uplands and two protected areas — Santa Cruz Island and Passanaka Natural Park. She said those sites are managed through local plans such as a mangrove management plan and a local climate change action plan to guide conservation and hazard mitigation.
Lagba also described a nearly‑complete veterinary diagnostic laboratory project, and noted the local government’s tree‑planting campaign that she said planted over one million trees. She told council members she participated in drafting management plans and local disaster risk assessments and suggested that exchanges could help both communities share practices.
Mayor (speaker 1) and staff thanked Lagba for the presentation and staff described the federal YSEALI program’s goal of bringing leaders to the United States to observe local processes. Staff noted the program is operated by the U.S. Department of State and that a funded project could bring a reciprocal fellow to Saginaw.
Lagba concluded by repeating her request for a sister‑city relationship and offering to share project materials and contacts if council wished to pursue a formal exchange.
The council did not take immediate formal action on the sister‑city request; staff indicated they would follow up if the council asked for a formal evaluation or next steps.
