Esta ley ordena al Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña identificar y preservar estructuras históricas en la zona urbana de Loíza por su valor arquitectónico, histórico y cultural, asegurando su legado para futuras generaciones.
(Approved August 8, 2002)
To direct the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture to identify the structures located in the urban zone of the Municipality of Loíza that date to past centuries, and that for their architectural, historical and/or cultural characteristics deserve to be preserved as a historical legacy for future generations.
The history of Puerto Rico is an essential part of our cultural development. It is extremely important for our citizens to know not only our history as a People, but also the history of the town in which they were born and have lived in, as well as its most prominent citizens, and the structures located in said zone, the stage of the history of the town in question.
Every generation has the right to know the history of its people, its hometown, and its nation. Therefore, it is pertinent for this generation to preserve those structures, objects, literature, paintings, etc., that project in space and time, the elements that were the links for the formation of a people. Through these instruments we can go back to other times and places, and revive customs and traditions, and how they have evolved through the years and centuries.
Puerto Rico has been fortunate to have one of the richest cultures of America. More than five centuries have passed since its discovery, and still, many structures that enable us to revive the history of our ancestors remain intact.
In the $21^{ ext {st }}$ Century, it is essential to sponsor and support that towns preserve those structures that compile the characteristics that distinguish one town from another, and that were a cornerstone in their formation and development. Future generations have the right to know where they come from in order to know where they are going.
Therefore, this Legislature deems that it is of utmost importance to identify the historical structures of the towns of our Puerto Rico, to ensure that our future generations may know the physical scenarios of its history.
Section 1.- The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture is hereby directed to identify the structures located in the urban zone of the Municipality of Loíza that date to past centuries, and that for their architectural, historical and cultural characteristics deserve to be preserved as a historic legacy for future generations.
Section 2.- The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture shall submit the names of the structure to the Planning Board and shall take the measures necessary to comply with the provisions of this Act.
Section 3.- The funds needed to comply with the purposes of this Act shall be identified, requested and consigned in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico General Budget of Expenses as of the 2003-2004 fiscal year and subsequently, in the item appropriated to the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 117 (S.B. 1083) of the $3^{ ext {rd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to direct the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture to identify the structures located in the urban zone of the Municipality of Loíza that date to past centuries, and that for their architectural, historical and/or cultural characteristics deserve to be preserved as a historical legacy for future generations, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $14^{ ext {th }}$ of October of 2002.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director