Sunday, September 14, 2008 Argao sports complex costs P24M, not P40M
MAYOR Edcel Galeos of Argao, Cebu yesterday clarified that the total cost of the Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center is only P24 million and not P40 million, as reported.
He said the amount came from different sources.
Galeos, through Vince V. Escario, the over-all artistic director of the 400th founding anniversary of Argao, made the clarification so people may know that the cost of the sports complex, named in honor of the father of the incumbent president, is lesser that what other people think.
Escario said President Arroyo, through the efforts of Director General Cerge Remonde of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), gave P20 million. The other funds came from Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (P2 million); Rep. Pablo Garcia (P1.5 million); and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (P500,000).
Zubiri pledged P1 million, but only 500T so far has been released.
Commercial stalls
Galeos said the President Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center is designed to have 20 commercial stalls for lease so it can generate income.
The sports complex will be inaugurated on Sept. 19, to coincide with the 400th founding anniversary celebration.
The celebration will begin with a mass at 5:00 p.m. at the Saint Michael Parish Church. This will be followed by the ceremonial lighting of the centennial flame at the Puerta Marina of the Argao Unity Plaza.
Inauguration
A parade of lights and street dancing will follow. It will proceed to the sports and cultural center where the formal inauguration will be held.
Escario said comparza presentations by elementary students will depict scenes from the country’ pre-Hispanic, Hispanic, Japanese, American and contemporary periods.
At the Argao Unity Plaza on Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m., the Municipal Government will lead the Garbo 400 Dinner and Awards Night where the Most Outstanding Argawanon Achievers will be recognized.
The ceremony will also feature the debut performance of the Argao Performing Arts Group.
Escario said the Municipality of Argao will launch the “Argao: 400 years in Legend and History,” a two-hundred page book written by Argawanon historian and genealogist Todd Lucero Sales.
Escario and Eliezer Sarmago edited the book. (EOB)
