[ Manila Bulletin Online ] June 20, 2008
URDANETA CITY — The National Commission on Arts and Culture (NCAC) will enter into a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the city government of Urdaneta for the construction of a R7-million mini park in this city, Urdaneta Mayor Amadeo R. Perez Jr. announced yesterday.
Mayor Perez said that the signing of the MoA with the commission headed by Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez will be held in Manila on June 25.
He said that under the agreement, the city government will provide a counterpart fund of R3 million, while the commission will release R4 million for the construction of the mini park in front of the new City Hall located in Barangay Tulong.
Mayor Perez said that the minipark will occupy an area of some 2000 square meters and that the design and landscaping plan will be prepared by three national artists.
The city mayor said that a statue of Father Andres Urdaneta will be installed in the mini park as a symbol of honor for the Spanish friar from whom Urdaneta City got its name.
Mayor Perez said that this year is the 5th centennial of the birth of Father Urdaneta. The city government of Odizia, Spain, birthplace of Father Urdaneta, headed by Mayor Jose Miguel Sta. Maria Ezeiza will be coming next week to this city for the affair.
Mayor Perez said the city government appreciates the gesture by the Odizia city government of forging with Urdaneta a sisterhood agreement.
"Labis ang aming pasasalamat sa pamahalaan ng Odizia na pinamumunuan ni Mayor Ezeiza sa kanyang pagtungo dito noong Nobyembre 2007 at muling babalik sa isang linggo," he said.
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