Vila Nova de Famalicão celebrated another year - the 39th - of being elevated from a town to a city. More than just the celebration of a "historic date", this is the day on which the
"progress and dynamism" of the Famalicão community is celebrated and the
"outstanding personalities and institutions" of the municipality are recognised.
This is the case of the University of Minho (UM), which throughout its 50 years of existence has contributed to the "highly specialised training of thousands of famalicenses" and which yesterday received the Municipality's Medal of Honour. For the rector of the educational institution, Rui Vieira de Castro, this award is a sign of the "recognition of the university's role as a key player in the economic, social and cultural development of this region".
Currently, UM is focused on consolidating the projects it is developing in Famalicão, but Rui Vieira de Castro recognises that the "solid relationship" between the two bodies means that one of the next steps for the University of Minho in the municipality will be to develop non-degree courses - "shorter courses that increase qualifications and specific skills".
The municipality's tribute to the mayors elected in the first local elections under the democratic regime and who held office from 1977 to 1979 was another of the afternoon's highlights. Mário Passos spoke of an "act of justice". "In the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the conquest of democracy in Portugal, this is a fitting tribute. They were responsible for creating the necessary conditions to address the many basic needs of our populations and for opening a new cycle of democratic civic learning," he said.
Each step "is a lever" for the "future we seek to guarantee"
Mário Passos also took advantage of the City Day celebrations to announce the start-up, in 2025, of the inter-municipal public road transport network that is being developed with the municipalities of Trofa and Santo Tirso. "The Court of Auditors gave the green light to the MobiAve project, which means that from January 2025 we will have the new inter-municipal public road transport network," he explained. Each year, the municipality will have 7.5 million euros of municipal investment to guarantee the public road passenger transport service. This new network will involve the creation of new lines and the use of "environmentally friendly buses".
The mayor also said that Famalicão has reached an agreement "with Infraestruturas de Portugal to transfer 36 kilometres of national roads to the municipal sphere". These roads will be assessed and the priority sections that need upgrading will be repaired. "The financial compensation is not what we had hoped for, but the state of the roads and the overriding public interest of the municipality force us not to waste any more time," he said.
Whilst outlining a balance of municipal activity, especially in the areas of Health, Environment, Education and Housing, Mário Passos also announced that "after overcoming legal contingencies", the municipality "now expects to proceed with the tender for the long-awaited Athletics Track".
Mário Passos listed a series of actions that are "crucial for the future of our municipality". The mayor therefore hopes that the municipality and the people of Famalicense can jointly build a "prosperous future" for the municipality, "where every citizen feels happy, valued and full of opportunities".
Other honours that "reflect the quality of Famalicense's DNA"
During the solemn session marking the city's 39th anniversary, the municipality also honoured the publisher of Edições Humus, Rui Fernão de Magalhães, the bookseller Rui José Carvalho de Faria Araújo, the Portuguese guitar player, author and composer Carlos Macedo, the Greek composer based in Famalicão Dimitris Andrikopoulos and the Ruivães Group 444 of the National Scouts Corps with the Municipal Cultural Merit Medal.
Rally and off-road navigator Filipe Martins, Figueiredo's Runner's and Friends Association athlete Joaquim Figueiredo and referee João Pinheiro, recently elected Best Referee in the Portuguese Football League for the 2023/2024 season, received the Municipal Sports Medal of Merit. João Cerejeira, a professor and researcher in the field of economics, was awarded the Municipal Medal of Merit for Science.
Famalicense fashion designer Gonçalo Peixoto, Ana Patrícia Correia, who in 2023 received the "Chef Pâtissier" award from the International Academy of Gastronomy, the centenary "Elétrica", businessman and consultant Joaquim Rui de Castro Manita and the companies Xavier's, Macedo & Macedo and Ribeiro & Antunes, which are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, received the Municipal Economic Merit Medal.
The Municipal Medal of Merit was awarded to Carlos de Sousa, from Casa da Memória Viva, to ACIP - Ave Cooperativa Intervenção Psico-Social (25 years), to ACB - Associação Cultural Beneficente e Desportiva dos Trabalhadores do Município (25 years) and to Centro Social e Paroquial de Avidos (25 years).