Ministers bring initiatives from 12 ministries to Alagoas.

Alagoas247 - During a meeting with mayors from Alagoas, at the Maceió Convention Center, the Minister of Planning, Budget and Management, Miriam Belchior, announced this Friday (20) resources in the order of more than R$ 8 billion for the state. The amount is part of the Growth Acceleration Program 2, PAC 2, and should be applied to the execution of stages of the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT), in the "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" program, in the Canal do Sertão and in investments in the energy sector and social and urban infrastructure. 

According to the minister, R$ 280 million will be used for the construction of the light rail system (VLT), which should run along Avenida Fernandes Lima, through the city center, and reach Jardim Petrópolis. An additional R$ 2,5 million will be invested in the energy sector. And resources will be invested in the completion of the Canal do Sertão and in the federal program "Minha Casa, Minha Vida" (My House, My Life), totaling more than R$ 5 billion.

Public debt 

The minister defended – in a press interview – the need to renegotiate the interest rates of the public debt indexers that the state of Alagoas is obliged to pay monthly to the Union, in the order of R$ 50 million. Belchior believes that, given the chaotic social scenario in the state, the people of Alagoas are unable to afford the monthly payment and, because of this, the situation remains almost unchanged, despite the significant support from the Federal government. 

In the interview, the minister recalled that a bill is currently being processed in the National Congress that aims to discuss indexation rates. Only through legislation – the minister emphasizes – would governors have the possibility of optimizing the application of state treasury resources. “I believe it is more than time to discuss these rates. For example, Alagoas is a poor state and cannot afford the monthly transfer of R$ 50 million. The bill can resolve this long-standing and still unresolved issue,” she considered. 

Official data from the state government shows that the public debt currently stands at around R$ 8 billion. The monthly payment of R$ 50 million refers only to the payment of interest on the public debt to the federal government. 

In addition to Miriam Belchior, President Dilma Rousseff sent to Alagoas the ministers-in-chief of the Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality, Luiza Bairros, and of the Secretariat for Institutional Relations, Ideli Salvatti. They arrived in the state for the "concentrated effort of actions from 12 ministries." Through them, the federal government intends to offer assistance to mayors in preparing projects in order to receive federal funds. 

"The federal government's commitment is to the entire population. We have no party affiliations. We believe that mayors need our help, and we are here to offer all the necessary support," Belchior emphasized. 

Luiza Bairros recalled the sad scenario of violence to which young people in Alagoas are subjected, especially black youth. “We need to reinforce the Juventude Viva program. We cannot accept that young people continue to die in this way in Alagoas. The Federal government has been doing its part, and therefore, the representatives must do their part. Throughout the day, we will be listening to the main complaints and, naturally, we will debate a solution,” Bairros warned. 

The president of the Association of Municipalities of Alagoas (AMA), Marcelo Beltrão (PTB), highlighted – during the event – ​​that the municipalities need better support from the federal government. For 2014, he requested an additional 2% increase in the Municipal Participation Fund (FPM).

According to Salvatti, mayors have difficulty developing projects.

In Alagoas, by express order of President Dilma Rousseff, the Minister of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, Ideli Salvatti, stated that three out of every four mayors are first-term managers and because of this many have difficulties in preparing projects to receive federal funds. She is participating in an event with mayors at the Convention Center, this Friday (20) and, in an interview with Radio GazetaThe minister reinforced the federal government's commitment to municipal leaders.

Salvatti reported that representatives from 12 ministries – from the areas of education, health, social services, infrastructure, basic sanitation, and housing – also arrived in the state to assist municipal managers in projects aimed at receiving federal funds. The meeting between the mayors and representatives of the ministries is taking place throughout the day.

"President Dilma realized that the new managers were having great difficulty presenting projects to the ministries. Despite having funds available for allocating infrastructure projects, the government couldn't send them because of this. All representatives have been instructed to help the managers in any way possible," announced Salvatti.

In Alagoas, the minister highlighted that the concentrated reinforcement of ministerial actions is in its 20th edition, and in other states, positive results were obtained shortly thereafter.

"When it comes to helping mayors and governors, President Dilma Rousseff doesn't choose political parties. Over the past three years, we've seen that resources are sent to everyone. In Alagoas, we have an example of this. Governor Teotonio Vilela is a political opponent, but the federal government has been present for a long time. The 'Brasil Mais Seguro' and 'Juventude Viva' programs attest to this commitment. And, at the event this Friday, the mayors will witness that President Dilma does not shirk this responsibility," the minister emphasized.

In addition to the actions of the security program, the minister announced the federal government's intention to implement actions to combat violence focused on municipalities in the interior, especially those that present the worst homicide rates when we analyze the data on young black people murdered.

"For almost two years, the security program in Alagoas has been funded by the federal government. Our goal now is to listen to and, consequently, help municipal managers. Specific actions in the cities need to be carried out, and the arm of the federal government will be present once again. In previous editions of the concentrated effort, more than 20 actions were carried out," he highlighted.

Also in the interview, Ideli Salvatti praised the fight by the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) against the misappropriation of public funds. However, she pointed out that in many cases of alleged misappropriation, managers make mistakes due to a lack of training.

"There are mayors who commit crimes, but a large part of the mistakes due to lack of training hinder the progress of projects in Brasília. To combat potential flaws, we will strengthen ministerial representations in the states to prevent mayors from having to travel to Brasília to resolve a simple problem. With this, everyone wins, especially the population," he emphasized.

In addition to ministerial actions, the minister announced the donation of water tanker trucks to several municipalities. She also stated that by the end of next year, 92 municipalities in Alagoas will receive agricultural equipment to strengthen family farming. “In total, there will be more than 373 machines for the municipalities; of the 102 cities, only 7 will not be included. Through them, family farming will be reinforced. Working together will transform the landscape of many cities,” concluded Salvatti.

Representing Senator Fernando Collor de Mello (PTB), Euclides Mello welcomed the minister. In an interview with GazetawebHe recalled that in recent years, during the administrations of former President Lula and now President Dilma Rousseff, the state of Alagoas has been blessed with millions in resources. “Our state has never received as many resources as in recent years. It is clear that President Dilma has been striving to change the current situation. However, it is imperative that the state governor does his part; nothing could be more natural,” Mello emphasized.

With gazetaweb.com