Municipality of Quito considers that constitutional amendment does not affect its autonomy

Mauricio Rodas, Mayor of Quito, spoke yesterday about the proposed amendment of the Government on the article 264 of the Constitution concerning the powers of the municipalities in the areas of education and health. For him and Councilman Jorge Albán of Alianza PAÍS (AP), this does not affect the municipal autonomy.

Rodas, after announcing the Fire Plan for Quito, said he would like to know in detail the constitutional proposal, that “reform would not affect the provision of education and health service that organizes the municipality of Quito; what has been said is that it would be a reform around infrastructure in education and health but not in the provision of those services,” he insisted.

The Councilman Jorge Albán said that it should not be confused that the proposal for amendment posed to the Constitutional Court refers solely to the topic of the construction of infrastructure for educational institutions, and not to competition with the municipalities in the area of education and health services.

He assured that it is not an injury to municipalism, because the Municipality can continue providing education service and managing, as Quito does with municipal schools.

In the health field, Alban said that the city will continue providing health services through the Patronato, but the construction of new infrastructure will be provided by the central Government.