Miranda holds a marathon of hearings in Brasília.
The Governor of Tocantins, Marcelo Miranda, has begun a series of visits to ministers with the goal of attracting investments to the state. Among the governor's meetings in ministries in Brasília, the one held with the Minister of Social Security, Carlos Eduardo Gaba (both pictured), could resolve obstacles and problems the government has faced regarding social security issues, inherited by Igeprev from the previous administration. Miranda also has meetings scheduled with the Ministers of Education, Health, Aquaculture, Transport, and Civil Aviation.
Tocantins 247 - The governor of Tocantins, Marcelo Miranda, began a series of visits to ministers this week with the goal of attracting investments to the state. Among the meetings the governor held in ministries in Brasília, which began on Tuesday the 24th, the one with the Minister of Social Security, Carlos Eduardo Gaba, could resolve obstacles and problems the government has with the pension system, inherited by the Tocantins Institute of Pension Management (Igeprev) from the previous administration. The governor was accompanied by state secretaries and federal deputies.
Marcelo Miranda assessed the meeting as "quite satisfactory," mainly because he perceived the minister as sensitive to the chaotic situation of the pension system in Tocantins. According to the governor, since the first contacts made by the president of the Institute, Jacques Silva, the minister has made his team available in order to find a viable and legal solution for the settlement of the debt of more than R$ 266 million owed by the Government to the State's pension system, generated in the previous administration.
“This pending issue, in addition to harming public employees, harms the Public Authority, since, as a result, the State is unable to obtain the release of the CRP [Certificate of Regularity with the Social Security System], which is essential for us to enter into contracts and agreements with the federal government,” he explained.
Also according to Minister Gaba, the meeting had a satisfactory outcome. “It’s positive that the governor sought us out, that he showed commitment to understanding and being willing to resolve the situation in Tocantins regarding Social Security,” he said, adding that the negotiation process is well advanced. “All the requested data and demands were presented, the governor has already taken immediate action. A good part of the pending issues have already been resolved and, this week, others should be settled, so that the State of Tocantins can continue its administrative life legally,” he said.
The governor also met with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Helder Barbalho. According to the minister, Tocantins could be one of the leading aquaculture centers in Brazil. Barbalho justified his statement by highlighting Governor Marcelo Miranda's decision to visit the Ministries and, especially, to make the State "available to adapt" to the demands of federal projects.
"Above all, for the purpose of making the necessary strategic decisions to enable the implementation of Aquaculture Parks in the reservoir of the lake formed by the Lajeado Hydroelectric Plant," he stated. In Barbalho's opinion, this is crucial for the Ministry to consider and prioritize action in Tocantins, guaranteeing production, employment, income, and strengthening the state's economy.
According to Marcelo Miranda, the minister's expectations only reinforce his responsibility for growth in the sector. "We are confident and hope to make this segment one of the great drivers of our economy, just as grain, meat, and milk production already are," he emphasized. During the meeting, Barbalho delegated to his team special attention to the demands presented by Marcelo Miranda.
Tocantins ranks 14th in fish production in the national ranking of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture. In 2014 alone, 15 tons were produced, boosting the fish market and generating R$ 180 million. The state currently has 36 registered fishing colonies, six thousand fishermen, and also has four fish processing plants, all authorized by the Federal Inspection Service (SIF), which allows the commercialization of the production.
More commitments
The head of the Tocantins state government also has meetings scheduled with other ministries this Wednesday. Miranda aims to introduce the Minister of Education, Cid Gomes, to the details of the work plan that has already been developed for education in Tocantins. The plan foresees the implementation of comprehensive and humanized education in all schools in the state, with projects in two areas: restructuring of schools and revision of the pedagogical curriculum.
At the Ministry of Transport, the governor wants to work with Minister Antônio Carlos Rodrigues to secure funding for the West-East Railway's route through Tocantins. The federal government project connects the Port of Ilhéus to the North-South Railway, passing through the state; however, the governments of Bahia and Goiás have proposed altering the route, which will negatively impact Tocantins' logistical projects.
The topic of discussion with the Secretariat of Aviation of the Presidency of the Republic is the revival of aviation projects for Tocantins, focusing on a logistics platform centered on air transport from the Palmas airport, and the federal government's plan to invest in the construction of 80 airports in the Amazon region.
The day's agenda concludes at the Ministry of Health, one of this administration's priorities. It was not disclosed what specific topic the governor will discuss with Minister Artur Chioro.