President Oscar Arias and his Cabinet members visited the city of Alajuela, northwest of San José, in honor of Juan Santamaría Day yesterday and announced several plans in the works to improve the province of the same name, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

The government plans to invest ¢2 billion ($3.8 million) in the creation of a new public Alajuela Technical University, the President said.

“It's time that Alajuela had a university and, more importantly, that it is a technical university,” Arias said during his weekly Cabinet meeting, held at the birthplace of Juan Santamaría in honor of this national hero.

Education Minister Leonardo Garnier said creating a university in Alajuela will generate jobs and development in the province. Additionally, he remarked on the ministry's delegation of ¢430 million ($826,923) for badly needed infrastructure repairs to other schools in Alajuela.

Other members of the President's Cabinet also had things to brag about to the citizens of Alajuela. Vice-Minister of Public Works and Transport Viviana Martín said her ministry is investing ¢5 billion ($9.6 million) in roads, while Public Health Minister María Luisa Avila talked about expansion of the Alajuela hospital and creation of new health centers.

In terms of fighting crime in Alajuela, Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal said the province recently gained 38 police officers and that he hopes to soon add 30 more.

“It's no secret to anyone that delinquency is one of the problems that must be attacked with the most force by authorities,” he said.

Finally, Culture Minister María Elena Carballo announced plans to create a music school in Alajuela similar to the one in San José that offers classes to more than 800 students.