CAUAYAN CITY – Murals of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals have become this city’s newest attraction at the Cauayan City Sports Complex.

A steady stream of local residents and visitors have been visiting the sports complex to have their pictures taken with the UN murals as background, defying the constant threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

But Cauayan Information Officer Atty. Reina Consorcia M. Santos clarified that the murals have yet to be officially unveiled because the city government was still waiting for the other facilities in the sports complex to be completed.

But this early, Santos said the city government was already taking pride in the complex, which was one of the big projects being completed under the administration of Mayor Bernardo Faustino M. Dy.

Santos said the newly constructed Cauayan City Sports Complex will be named after the late former governor and mayor Benjamin G. Dy, and is located in a 300-hectare open-filled land in Barangay Tagaran, Cauayan City.

She also disclosed that the Isabela Artist Circle, a group of talented artists and painters from Isabela, was behind the world-class artwork.

The colorful, life-sized murals showcased each of the UN’s sustainable development goals – No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & well-Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water & Sanitation, affordable & Clean Energy, Decent Work & Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnership for the Goals.

When the United Nations launched these new goals in 2016, and Cauayan City took the lead in localizing these goals calling them “Labing Pitong Hamon sa Bawat Cauayeño (17 Challenges for Every Citizen of Cauayan),” where all plans and programs of the local government will be aligned with these goals, with the belief that small steps from the local governments, when taken altogether, would greatly help in the achievement of this global advocacy.

The Cauayan City Sports Complex, by far, is the largest infrastructure in the Philippines which highlights the UN’s sustainable development goals, and reflects the strong support of city government in realizing the objectives of these global goals. 

When finished, the Mayor Benjamin Dy Sports Complex will be able to accommodate at least 6,000 individuals.

She noted that if not for the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports complex was supposed to have hosted the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CAVRAA) Meet.

 “We have high hopes that with the creation of the Mayor Benjamin Dy Sports Complex, Cauayan City will again make a name as a center to host not just regional, but also national events, one way to promote the vibe, uniqueness and historical grandeur of Cauayan City, truly making it the Ideal City of the North.” said Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy.