The Emergency Commission reports 20 places have registered losses in infrastructure of more than $276 million in the last three emergency decrees. /Commission of Emergencies courtesy photo
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Deputies concerned about lack of prevention programs in the face of possible emergencies
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The deputies who are part of the Special Commission of Coastal Zones of the Congress, expressed their concern before the President of the Commission of Emergencies, Alexander Solís, regarding the lack of prevention programs that could be necessary in the face of emergencies happening as a consequence of the climatic change.
Once example set forth by deputy Melvin Núñez Piña is the winter floods in the community of Parrita* located on the Pacific Coast. "However, the Municipality has not been responsible for doing river dredging work to prevent it from getting out of its channel," said deputy Nuñez.
Regarding that case, the president of the Commission, Alexander Solis, said that currently there is a program based on the United Nations protocol to analyze climate change and its repercussions. Twenty communities are being studied including which are most affected by emergencies.
According to Solis, these 20 places have registered losses in infrastructure of more than $276 million in the last three emergency decrees but the Commission has been investing $66 million in reconstruction works.
In addition, there are 12 other places that have suffered damages valued at $176 million but those rural areas have only seen an investment of $46,174 in infrastructure reconstruction works.
The lack of monetary attention, according to Solis, is that the Commission "has funds to meet the emergency on the first impact, but no more than that, there is no money for reconstruction, but rather the Commission has a significant budget shortfall to cover previous emergencies."
The president of the commission explained that, in addition, the municipalities require more advice and training in the care and prevention of emergencies in the face of climate change.
As A.M. Costa Rica reported on June 7, the Commission reported
that of the 53 bridges that were destroyed by Hurricane Otto in 2016
and tropical storm Nate in 2017, only 24 have been repaired or rebuilt.
With
a budget of approximately $37,875,420 the Commission continues in the
process of designing, repairing or constructing the 29 bridges located
in: Upala, Naranjo, Guatuso, Grecia, San Ramón, Turrialba, Bagaces, La
Cruz, Sarapiquí, Matina, Limón , Coto Brus, Buenos Aires, Runners,
Golfito, Mora, Moravia and Dota.
"To date, 24 bridges have been
completed, of which 7 were new and the rest were redesigned or
repaired," said the Commission in its statement.
As an example,
in the communities of La Cruz*, Upala*, and Bagaces*, 21 bridges were
rebuilt or repaired after their destruction by Hurricane Otto in 2016.
"After
Hurricane Otto and Tropical Storm Nate many communities were cut off
from communication, the transportation was difficult, many farmers could
not harvest their crops," said Solís.
According to Solís, the capital used for the construction of the bridges is from the National Emergency Fund.
How could municipalities be more efficient with infrastructure repair in their communities when they are affected by natural emergencies? We would like to
know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments
to: news@amcostarica.com
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