| Work Detail |
The governor provincializes the investments that used to be enjoyed by the municipalities. More schools, less curbs. What do the affected municipalities say?
Governor Rogelio Frigerio decided to change the imprint of public works carried out in Entre Ríos with funds from the surplus of the Salto Grande dam. The redefinition contemplates redirecting investments to works of provincial jurisdiction, such as schools and hospitals, and ceasing to finance works that correspond to the municipalities, such as the curb and gutter.
The background is the mandate of the adjustment applied by the government of Javier Milei. In times of financial creativity, Frigerio found in the Administrative Commission of the Special Fund of Salto Grande (Cafesg) millionaire income that could alleviate the lack of funds in other official bodies.
What is CAFESG
The Salto Grande Special Fund Management Commission is responsible for managing the surpluses that enter the province from the production of energy from the Salto Grande hydroelectric dam, located in Concordia. By law, these funds must be allocated to regional development and cannot be allocated to areas other than those of influence of the dam.
The government explained to Letra P that Frigerios decision to cut off public works of a "municipal" nature aims to restore the provincial meaning of these funds. The measure directly affects the departments of Federación, Concordia, Colón and Concepción del Uruguay, with all the small towns included. Among the affected municipalities there are mayors of Juntos por Entre Ríos, such as Francisco Azcué, from Concordia, and of Peronism, such as José Eduardo Lauritto, from Concepción del Uruguay.
Rogelio Frigerio changed the focus of investment for the surpluses of Salto Grande. He sends funds to schools and hospitals.
Rogelio Frigerio changed the focus of investment for the surpluses of Salto Grande. He sends funds to schools and hospitals.
The law, which dates back to 1998, states that the funds received by the province in the form of surpluses must be used to promote regional development, as a form of historical reparation for the consequences that the construction of the dam had on peoples lives. This objective, conceived in terms of development, is one of the great debts still unpaid.
What Rogelio Frigerio plans to do with the surplus money
At Casa Gris, they justified to this media that the redirection of investments aims to offer decent school infrastructure and hospitals in optimal conditions. “That is also betting on development,” they respond to questions that indicate that these works could be carried out with a provincial budget.
The first stage of the plan involves investing between 300 and 400 million pesos in each of the four departments. A total of 1.2 billion pesos have been announced for schools and hospitals, and future investments are planned for the maintenance of local roads and some highways.
The modality of working with organizations instead of municipalities is new in the history of Cafesg. The priorities of public works now arise from the General Council of Education (CGE) and the provincial direction of Architecture and not so much from the capacity of the municipalities to impose their demands.
Who manages the surplus fund in Entre Ríos?
The president of the Commission is the radical Carlos Cecco. At 81 years old, he has a long history in Entre Ríos politics. He was three times mayor of Federación, provincial deputy and national deputy. Frigerio found in him a man of confidence, knowledgeable about the needs and demands of the area. He is the first leader to lead the organization who does not come from Concordia.
Frigerio and Carlos Cecco, the new president of CAFESG, the provincial body that manages the funds of Salto Grande.
Frigerio and Carlos Cecco, the new president of CAFESG, the provincial body that manages the funds of Salto Grande.
Cecco manages an annual fund for public works that reaches 5,000 million pesos, and oscillates between 400 and 600 million per month, depending on the productivity of the dam. The change in the organizations management guidelines is due to "the extreme need and urgency" of the situation in schools, the Executive justified. However, the organization clarifies that the new modality does not eliminate the possibility of Cafesg intervening in the municipalities, although for now that option has been postponed.
The affected municipalities understand that this is an exchange of works and did not express any major concern about the change. They see investment in schools as a possible capitalization also at a local level, given the direct impact it has on the communities they govern. |
