Clark Freeport, Pampanga—House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other government officials recently broke ground on a monument commemorating the deeds in public administration and good governance of her father Diosdado Macapagal, the ninth president of the Republic.
Joining Arroyo, also the country’s 14th President and currently the representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga, were officials of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and local executives.
The ceremony also marked the unveiling of a road marker of the 2.16-kilometer Macapagal Highway named after “Cong Dadong” that connects the interchange of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Express that traverse the main road inside the Clark Global City.
The monument which from now becomes a cultural heritage of the country due to its political and historical importance is measuring about 20 feet with a 20 feet pedestal wherein a 10 feet full size body statue will be erected.
The monument was approved for construction based of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines guidelines on monument honoring National leaders heroes, and illustrious personages.
The twin events were also witnessed by Macapagal’s grandson Mikey Arroyo, who is running for Congress also in the second district of Pampanga in his mother’s stead in the 2019 elections.
During the ceremony, the Speaker also received a replica of the Diosdado P. Macapagal highway road signs from Clark Global City vice chairman and president Wilfredo Placino and Atty. Deo Custodio of Udenna Corporation, which operates the global city.
Macapagal was the ninth president of the Republic from 1961 up to 1965. He served as the sixth Vice President from 1957 to 1961 and president of the Constitutional Convention of 1970. He was a congressman in 1949 and 1970.
He was also a poet in languages like Chinese, Spanish, and English apart from his native dialect.
Macapagal died in 1997 at 86 years old.
The ninth president’s legacy included the introduction of the first land reform law, changed the independence day from July 4 to June 12. He placed the monetary unit on the free currency exchange market, liberalized foreign exchange and import control and others.
Those who attended the double event included Vince Dizon, president and CEO of Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), Jose “Ping” De Jesus, chairman of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Noel Manankil, president and CEO of CDC.
Also, in attendance were Pampanga 1st District and 3rd representatives Carmelo Lazatin II, Aurelio Gonzalez, Tarlac 2nd district congressman Victor Yap, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and other local officials of the provinces.