Through her X account, Congresswoman Carolina Arbeláez called attention to the resources that would be used by the Ministry of Equality in airline tickets for the transportation of its officials. The issue arises amid criticism that the portfolio has received regarding its budget execution.
(Read more: Minsalud advances Vaccination Intensification Plan in Colombia)
According to evidence in its publication, this year 700 million pesos were allocated for the “provision of national and international air tickets for the travel of public servants and/or contractors” for the development of support activities associated with the ministry. The attached document indicates that, of the amount established for this item, the level of execution is at 29.60%.
Taking that into account, the House representative questioned why many of those trips are not taking place. to bring social investment to the territories and emphasized the low budget execution that the Minigualdad has been registering.
“The 1.2% executed was used for operations, to pay the vice-ministers, the high bureaucratic fees and for the tourist trips of their officials”the congresswoman indicated.
This year, the Ministry of Equality has spent 700 million pesos on airline tickets for its employees. It is a pity that so many trips are not to reach the territories with social investment.
The 1.2% executed was used for the operation, to pay the 5… pic.twitter.com/32MNnQFj21
— Carolina Arbelaez (@kroarbelaez) August 23, 2024
It should be noted that since the second quarter of 2024, the portfolio has received multiple criticisms regarding the low execution it has reported month after month.
According to figures reported by the Economic Transparency Portal, The ministry’s execution is at 1.24% of the total budget established for this period. Part of this figure corresponds to the operational area, which means that most of these resources have been allocated to payroll, remuneration and social benefits.
However, from the investment categories, which is the execution of the mission of the Ministry of Equality, There is still no evidence of progress in implementing resources.
The department headed by Vice President Francia Márquez has explained on different occasions that in the last century there is no precedent of a ministry that has been launched from scratch. “Hence, the complexity of the task undertaken and the mission we have fulfilled for the country.”
In terms of management, the ministry has made progress in the implementation of programs such as Jóvenes en Paz, the national care system and Hambre Cero, which, in some cases, are still being regulated.
(Read more: CNE to resume administrative investigation into Petro’s presidential campaign)
(See: What is going on with the ‘novel’ of the passport issue in Colombia)
Vice President’s trips
In the context of this discussion, Francia Márquez, vice president and minister of Equality, has been involved in a controversy related to international travel which he has carried out in his role as President Gustavo Petro’s right-hand man.
According to a report presented by ‘El Espectador’, as of April 15 of this yearMárquez has had 17 international trips, which represent 21,568 dollars (around 86 million pesos) in travel expenses.
In this regard, the president pointed out that the transfers made by the vice president will continue, since “We are attracting more and more investment, more listeners, more people who come to visit us.”
(Read more: Congress is asked to return the 2025 PGN project to the Government for modification)
PORTFOLIO