(MONUMENT. Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leads groundbreaking rites for a monument to her father President Diosdado Macapagal in Clark with Global Gateway Development Corp. vice chair Wilfred Placiano, Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap, Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan, BCDA chair Vince Dizon, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, Mikey Arroyo, GGDC legal counsel Deogracias Custodio, CDC chair Ping de Jesus, CDC president Noel Manankil and CDC director Arthur Defensor. Photo by Deng Pangilinan)
CLARK FREEPORT — Former President and now Speaker of the House of Representatives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Clark officials on Tuesday led the unveiling of road marker and ground breaking ceremonies for the Diosdado P. Macapagal Monument inside this Freeport.
The former president was accompanied by Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President Noel F. Manankil, CDC Chairman Jose P. De Jesus, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vivencio B. Dizon.
Also present during the event were the officials of Pampanga and Tarlac provinces led by Governors Lilia Pineda and Susan Yap, respectively, Rep. Carmelo Lazatin II of 1st District, Aurelio Gonzales of 3rd Distrct both of Pampanga, and Victor Yap of 2nd Distrct of Tarlac.
Mayors Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles City, Crisostomo Garbo of Mabalacat City, and Condralito Dela Cruz of Porac, all of Pampanga also joined Speaker Arroyo during the ceremonies, including the former Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo, eldest son of Mrs. Arroyo and grandson of the late President Macapagal.
The proposed monument for Macapagal will have a total height of 20 feet with a 10-foot pedestal and 10-foot full body statue.
The artistic style, height, and overall design of the monument is based on the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Guidelines on monuments honoring national heroes, illustrious Filipinos and other personages.
Meanwhile, the Diosdado Macapagal Highway is 2.36 kilometers which connects Manuel A. Roxas Highway to the Clark South interchange of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). It also traverses the main roads inside the Clark Global City.
From its current four lane course, it will also undergo expansion next year in anticipation of a bigger traffic volume in future.
The Speaker was also presented with a replica of the D.P. Macapagal Highway road sign by Global Gateway Development Corporation (GGDC) Vice Chairman and President Wilfredo Placino with Atty. Deo Custodio of Udenna Corporation which operates the Clark Global City.
