Dumaguete's number one industry, the Education Industry, this week got a boost when City Officials witnessed the signing of two (2) Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) on Sister Schools between: Foundation University and Yeongdong University; and, Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial - Dumaguete Science High School (RTPM – DSHS) and Yeongdong High School.

The MOUs were signed at the Dumaguete Session Hall on Thursday, June 26, in the presence of officials from both Cities. Mayor Jeong Gu Bok headed the top-level delegation from Yeongdong that included Yeongdong University President Chae Hun Gwan, Superintendent of Education Chong Ku Sok, Local Autonomy Department Chief Jeong Seong Sik , Officer for International Affairs and Sisterships Jeong Mi Sook and private sector representative Jeong Woo Yung. Earlier on Thursday, the Yeongdong delegation visited the West City Elementary School and RTPM-DSHS where they given colorful welcome ceremonies complete with children waving small Korean and Philippine flags. At Foundation University, they were treated to a Filipino welcome by the University's dance troupe. About all three schools, Mayor Jeong remarked that, "We immediately felt the joy and enthusiasm for learning from both the teachers and the students as soon as we stepped into the schools." According to Greg Uymatiao, President of the Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation, "This is an event that we are happy to co-host because even if it promotes international ties for Dumaguete's educational institutions, the benefits will not stop there. Our entire province should prepare and get ready for the opportunities that can come from international exposure through sister relationships." DTI Provincial Director Jong Fortunato, who recently spent a month in Korea learning about how it encourages its cities to have foreign sister cities added, "We hope this partnership between the Dumaguete and the Yeongdong schools can quickly lead to a formal sister-city relationship between the two cities." He said, "These will have to be deliberated on by both City Councils first, of course, since we have to clearly ascertain how we can help each other and how each city can benefit, but this is definitely promising." Yeongdong county is located in Central Korea between the two biggest cities of Seoul and Busan.. It is known as the nation's fruit basket, as well as the center for Korean Traditional Music. In the past few years it has put up several manufacturing zones that it is actively promoting to new companies or those wanting to locate in Korea