During a citation in the Legislative, the authorities of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) were questioned by the low execution of public works and the little planning to carry out road maintenance that this portfolio contemplates for 2025.
This year, the CIV has Q7 thousand 800 million in force, but – at the date – its global execution reaches 6%. Minister Miguel Ángel Díaz acknowledged that, since he assumed the position, no project has been awarded; However, the Road Conservation Executing Unit (COVIAL) has published 44 events in the Guatecompras portal, which are mostly maintenance, such as cleanings and bumps, said the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Allan Renand Guevara.
The discussion rose in tone when they talked about maintenance in main roads, as the authorities showed ignorance of some sections.
“Have you hired maintenance for the Palín-Secla road?” Asked the deputy for the Central American Parliament (Parlacén) Carlos Barreda-who also attended the meeting-, to which the director of Caminos, Carlos Asturias, replied: “I dare to say that it is hired; It is not I who have to do that – maintenance – is covial, ”he said.
The general director of Covial, Mónica Gabriela Cueto, who said that in 2024 the cleanliness was agreed in that section, but this year it is up to roads to carry out the maintenance was immediately asked about it.
Then, the Minister of Communications intervened in the discussion and informed that on January 16 he sent the trade 057 to the director of Covial, so that he made the necessary contracting for the cleanliness and maintenance of the complete section of the Palín-Secuintla highway, but the official replied that he did not know that trade.
When leaving the citation, the minister was asked if he provides any change in the covial and road addresses, due to the ignorance of road maintenance, but assured that it is an issue that must be analyzed and that he cannot advance judgments.
“I have to take long enough; I am not a person who makes decisions with the liver, I take them with the brain, ”said the official.
Little maintenance
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure indicated that the country’s road network has approximately 19,325 kilometers. Of that amount, Covial is obliged to the conservation of 11,200 kilometers, but at present only 1,623 is maintained; that is, only 8% of the road network.
The rest of the routes is in charge of roads, which at this date has no active maintenance.
In view of this, Minister Díaz replied that the low intervention on the roads corresponds to what was left planned last year.
“They come here to justify themselves when there is no justification; Already after 14 months of being in the government, come to justify is not worth it, because the Ministry of Communications did not start with you, minister, ”said Deputy Orlando Blanco to the head of that portfolio.
Construction remains paralyzed
Minister Miguel Ángel Díaz was asked about the viaducts of the Roosevelt road and Petapa Avenue that were in charge of the CEBCO company, whose legal representative is Mario Alejandro Ceballos.
Díaz reported that these projects are under analysis in their office, because deficiencies in design and studies were detected to carry out the works.
At the end of the last year the process of execution of the bond of the Viaduct of Petapa Avenue began; However, it was announced that this bond has not yet been paid by the construction company.
In the case of the Roosevelt road distributor, the work is suspended, an action that was endorsed by the previous CIV authorities two days before the contract was overcome.
However, it was reported that the process of terminating the project is currently underway.
In May 2024, the Comptroller General of Accounts identified irregularities in the work of Petapa Avenue, whose initial amount was valued in Q82 million 568 thousand, but had an increase of more than Q16 million.
On that occasion, the Comptroller denounced the companies that were in charge of the construction and supervision of the work, since it was determined that there were breaches in the contract.
The Minister of Communications was consulted about possible complaints for unfinished works, but it was indicated that the portfolio does not have the elements of judgment to denounce these companies.
“I am not talking about corruption, I am talking about work that has to be done if someone has the donkey’s hair in their hands. To sue, to demand, but with evidence, but argue only for a political show is not legal, ”said the official.