After completing almost four years of mandate, the head of state, Mario Abdo Benítez, presented a new management report to the National Congress, in which he highlighted the historic investment in public works; the strengthening of the health system and the main social containment programs, in addition to the determined fight against organized crime.
However, Mario Abdo forgot important issues such as Itaipu, the renegotiation of Annex C, highlighted issues in Health, but let tomorrow’s purchases pass in a pandemic. The president again highlighted the routes built.
It is the third time that Abdo Benítez has been accountable to Congress and citizens virtually, due to a new wave of coronavirus infections in Parliament.
On the occasion, he highlighted the historic investment in public works; which translates into 3,182 kilometers of new paved roads promoted through the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), bringing road connectivity closer to areas that had never been reached before. He also highlighted the strengthening of the health system and the main social support programs. As well as private investments, the qualification and the economic perspective of the country.
In that order, he also emphasized the advancement of educational transformation, in addition to the determined fight against organized crime.
Among the achievements that appear in the presidential report we mention the following;
Investment in public works
He pointed out that although the numbers speak for themselves, all this management had as a strategic focus to transform the lives of all Paraguayans, improving access to markets and that their families feel the presence of the State that brings them closer to schools, hospitals and other essential sites.
In the Paraguayan Chaco there is the Bridge and the Bioceanic Route, the reconstruction of the Transchaco Route, the reconstruction of the Pozo Colorado – Concepción Route, the Milk Route, and the Central Chaco Aqueduct.
While in the metropolitan area, there is the Héroes del Chaco Bridge, the treatment and sewage plants, the Botanical Road Corridor, the Costanera Sur and the Tres Bocas Tunnel.
In the North Zone, the North Corridor PY22 and the improvement of Routes PY05, PY10 and PY11. Likewise, in the Eastern Zone, there is the Integration Bridge, the Eastern Metropolitan Corridor, the Superhighway – Mbaracayú – Puerto Indio, the Duplication of Route PY02 and the Export Corridor.
While in the South Zone of the country, works are promoted on the Villeta – Alberdi – Pilar Route, in addition to the Coastal Defense of Pilar and the Improvement of Route PY01.
economic perspective
In the economic aspect, the president emphasized that Paraguay is among the five countries with an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and that it is the only country in South America that maintained its credit rating and outlook in the last 3 years. We are more connected to the world, he said.
Private investment through Law 60/90 and Maquila has had significant growth during this government administration, registering an investment for an amount of 4,019.4 million dollars from August 2019 to May 2022, a figure that far exceeds the investment obtained in other periods. From August 2008 to July 2013, an investment of only 1,833.6 had been registered, while from August 2013 to July 2018 there was an investment of 2,155.2.
Regarding infrastructure works through the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), an investment of 311.15 million dollars was required.
On the other hand, he stated that the installed capacity of the Paraguayan Sanitary Services Company (Essap) has increased, with a production of drinking water of 212,161 m3 per day.
Likewise, he assured that Paraguay is the only country in the world with a 100% clean and renewable source of electricity generation.
Strengthening of the health system
Regarding investments in strengthening the health system, the head of state mentioned the installation of 771 beds in the Intensive Care Unit, tripling the amount in 2018, which was only 274 beds in the ICU. Along the same lines, he pondered the strengthening of human resources, with 21,000 new links.
Among the achievements that appear in the presidential report is also the notorious growth in the installation of Family Health Units, which translates into the authorization of some 245 new and refurbished FHUs in the current Government. It should be noted that during the previous administration only 93 USFs had been installed.
Another of the outstanding aspects is the stability and professionalization of health personnel, through the de-precarization of health personnel, which benefits 3,000 professionals appointed and contracted by the Executive.
Also the opening of the first contest to enter the professional nursing career, in compliance with Law 6625/2020, which regulates the professional career of nursing staff in the public sector.
Social programs
At another time, the president referred to the strengthening of social programs, achieving some 136,000 incorporations into the Senior Adults Program, as well as 90,000 families incorporated into the Tekoporã program, and 20,000 homes built, in the period from August 2018 to June 2022.
As for land titles delivered, there are about 4,275 titles delivered through the National Institute for Rural and Land Development (Indert) from August 2018 to June 2022.
Fight against drug trafficking
Regarding the blow to drug trafficking, he cited the seizure of some 38,244 kilos of cocaine, between 2018 and 2022, an amount that exceeds seizures in other periods. From 2013 to 2017, 11,312 were seized, and from 2008 to 2012, only 8,055 kilos.
As part of the fight against this scourge, “A Ultranza Py” was carried out, the largest operation against organized crime in the country, with a total seizure of 150 million dollars. In addition, he valued the record eradication of marijuana, of 7,000 tons with six operations.
Among the assets seized from drug trafficking, there are: 48 motorcycles, 30 trucks, 5,402 head of cattle, 10 boats, 33 luxury vehicles, 1 helicopter, 12 light aircraft and 85 buildings, 41 tractors and 9 agricultural machines. As well as 12 detainees, 112 procedures and raids on buildings, and on public roads.
educational transformation
Another important axis within the report is educational transformation, through actions to improve student learning conditions.
In this regard, he indicated that all public and subsidized school students received their school kits. As well as 100 percent coverage of the School Feeding Program and the delivery of materials to indigenous educational institutions.
