A site dedication for the proposed Guam Cultural Repository was held on April 30, Monday, at the Mangilao campus. Photo shows from left to right, Western Regional Director of U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment Gary Kuwabara, Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo; Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo, University of Guam President Robert Underwood, Commander of Joint Region Marianas Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield.

The University of Guam, government and military officials, and community stakeholders gathered for a site dedication for the proposed Guam Cultural Repository on Monday, April 30, at the Mangilao campus.

The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act appropriated funding for the construction of the cultural repository. Under the defense funding, around $12 million has been awarded to the Office of the Governor for the planning, design, and construction of the facility.

The Governor and the Department of Defense agreed that the best location for the Cultural Repository would be at the University of Guam. A 10-acre property within the Mangilao campus was selected.

UOG President Robert Underwood emphasized the importance of the facility.

“The repository is like the raw material for future research and for future understanding. So it is so vitally important that the University of Guam plays this role,” he said. “We are grateful for the support of the Governor, Admiral Chatfield, Congresswoman Bordallo and Gary Kuwabara of the Office of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense for their role in making this facility possible.”