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Vicuña announces reconstruction of Manta airport
Posted On 04 Sep 2018
Ecuadornews:
The Vice president is in charge of the attention of the areas affected by the earthquake. Announces the reconstruction of the Manta airport and says that important works have been unlocked.
Vice President María Alejandra Vicuña reviews the advances and pending issues in the reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake, the political climate and the reactions of the social sectors to the economic measures.
In what situation is the reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake?
We did an extraordinary session (last week) to unlock and make viable four works: three roads in Manabí and Esmeraldas and the reconstruction of the Manta airport that is fundamental for the economic reactivation.
In what phase is this last work?
After the reports their feasibility was made possible. There are the resources and studies and we hope that in the third week of October construction will begin, with a budget of $ 28’122,000. It is a work that was paralyzed by technical, legal issues but it was unlocked.
In reconstruction there are still pending areas. What happened?
The first thing we did when taking over the Reconstruction Committee was to incorporate Esmeraldas. The next session will be in that province this month (…) in addition a mapping of the works in execution is done, because behind each unfinished work there are unattended victims, but progress has been made. Nearly $ 700 million has been invested and a similar figure in execution, such as the construction of the Chone hospital that was stuck.
Bureaucratic obstacles?
Of all kinds: bureaucratic, budgetary and study. In Esmeraldas very little was done and much remains to be done.
In popular and solidary economy, what are the concrete actions?
The opening of a line of credit of $ 30 million until the end of the year to inject resources to entrepreneurs, without presenting guarantees, only the project, and the accompaniment of the Popular and Solidarity Economy Institute so that the Bank of the Pacific can be access a credit of $ 2,500 to $ 300,000 with an interest rate of 8.5%, depending on the conditions. 80% of the loan is assumed by the National Guarantee Fund and 20% by the bank.
Politically, what happens with PAIS that there are still no candidates?
There is a re-composition of provincial directives. The national board is made up of sectors that are part of Alianza PAIS and were previously excluded (…). The hurry brings fatigue, we are in an objective process from the territories for potential candidates and in the coming weeks we will make announcements to form a broad progressive front not only for elections but for a long-term process.
The secretary of PAIS, Gustavo Baroja, in an interview said that they are willing to talk with those who left … We have democratic openness and that was one of the proposals of President Lenin Moreno: dialogue. Dialogue with sectors of the left and the center that were always with the project, and reincorporate those who left. That also implies seeing current errors in the movement … The exercise of criticism and self-criticism cannot be absent.
As a government we have the democratic opening to listen and improve. There are questions about economic measures.
How will you act so that an unstable climate does not rise?
Listening to people and with the message that in the face of a complex situation, actions must be articulated with citizen co-responsibility. A first sample is the house setting. Nearly $ 1,000 million in savings will mean the merger of ministries, eliminate bureaucratic expenses that have no reason to be, understand that there is a stage of austerity, also combat and fight against corruption, but we will shield social programs.
In addition to super gas, will there be other increases?
The President has been clear that we must do an exercise of responsibility and understand that super gasoline is occupied by high-end vehicles; you have to make the figures honest. Nearly $ 3,000 million invested by the State in subsidies and a process of dialogue with the population should be started so that the subsidies reach those who most need it, especially the poorest. That must be shielded. (I)
