Local governments, in addition to implementing the Q6 billion allocated to them in regular and extraordinary funds this year, the Departmental Development Councils (Codede) have Q600 million for the strategy called the Grand National Crusade for Nutrition, which reports a 2.3 percent execution in 2024.
Mayors and experts justify the minimum execution in which extensive administrative processes are in place to complicate the implementation of the funds.
Of the Q600 million, this year the Presidential Executive Coordination Secretariat (SCEP) distributed Q520 million for new works among the 340 municipalities, but by October 31 an execution of Q13 million 859 thousand is reported. However, through the social communication of the Secretary General for Planning and Programming (Segeplán), it was indicated that there are Q5 million more, according to the data they record.
That is, according to Segeplán, the execution of the Grand Crusade National for Malnutrition in 2024 has an execution of about Q18 million. Still, it would be 3 percent execution.
The SCEP report reports that only eight departments have implemented budget for this programme, while in 10 other municipalities their Codedes have already received disbursements of about Q40 million 859, but are not yet implemented.
There are even some departments in which no disbursement has been made although they already have the funds, as is the case with Chimaltenango, Baja Verapaz, Zacapa and Chiquimula.
Projects planned by this budget must respond to works related to water, sanitation, drainage, education and infrastructure, another way to combat malnutrition indirectly so that the strategy is comprehensive.
Of this account, 331 works were planned this year, of which only 67 are being financed so far. As of 31 October, Q54 million were reported disbursed, but by 13 November they reported that Q101 million had been transferred in total.
SCEP argues that the Grand National Crusade for Nutrition was a program of Alejandro Giammattei’s government and that this administration inherited it because the previous year’s budget is in force. Last year’s implementation register indicates that 91 per cent of the funds were used for road infrastructure projects.
“We point out that those responsible for the implementation of the projects of the Development Councils are the municipalities, and that the President of the Republic, the Councils, the governor, cannot sign the agreement before starting the project until each and every requirement established by the regulations of the System of Development Councils are met,” explained the Scep.
As to whether these Q600 million will continue to be included in the 2025 budget, Scep pointed out that he is unaware of it and is a decision of the Members.
Delaes in efforts
The version of the mayors defends that this year there were delays that were generated by the election of governors, changes in the work teams and late processes in the entities of the Executive.
The president of the National Association of Municipalities, Sebastian Siero, detailed that the signing of the agreements between mayors and Codede was made until September because the Ministry of Finance (Minfin) did not speed up the inclusion of the projects in the geographical list of works, a fundamental requirement for the signing of the document.
“We were ready to sign an agreement with Codede in April, but the Minfin did not enter the projects in the Geographical List of Works, because that is needed for the agreement. There was a six-month delay because of the Minfin and the second “reason of the delay in implementation” was that there are many projects in which the ministries have not given the endorsements, mainly Education and Environment,” Siero said.
In this line, the deputy and former mayor Miguel Ovalle explained that the execution of the funds that manage the Codede is complicated because extensive processes are required to be able to start them, because multiple plans are required from the previous year, which are verified by Segeplán and returned with suggestions.
Ovalle also pointed out that this year the change in the mayoral authorities influenced the delays, which involves a relay in the posts of the mayoral headquarters, in addition to the appointment of governors.
“By changing mayors, they change their planning directors. Many carry planning directors who do not understand the issue of Guatecompras,” he warned.
He went on to ensure that those elected before assuming should devote themselves in the transition period to training and familiarizing themselves with the processes of public management so that, when assuming, there are minimal delays. For this training they can approach the Institute of Municipal Development.
“From many years ago it has been sought in the public administration, not only in the municipalities, that they have career staff; however, that will always have a limitation because within the whole body that composes the municipal structure there are positions that are trusted, such as the municipal secretary, the financial director and the director of planning,” he said.
Drag
Congress passed a law that would allow Codes to run this year’s regular funds by 2025. This legal reform includes the funds of the Grand National Crusade for Nutrition, according to the Ovalle.
Although it is not yet sanctioned by President Bernardo Arévalo, the Law on Speeding in the Execution of Works of Urban and Rural Development Councils would give the Codedes the power to have more than Q7 billion for the drag works that are pending this year.
This article has been translated after appearing in Prensa Libre