Azuay Prefecture Candidates Detail Road Infrastructure Plans for the Province

As the election approaches, candidates for the Azuay Prefecture have presented their detailed plans for the province's road infrastructure. This is a fundamental responsibility for provincial governments, as outlined in Article 263, numeral 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador, which specifies the planning, construction, and maintenance of the provincial road system, excluding urban areas.

Diario El Mercurio has summarized the proposals from eight candidates, drawing from their work plans submitted to the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE).

Sebastián Cevallos, from the Unidos por el Agua alliance, proposes a Provincial Road Infrastructure Management Plan. Key initiatives include forming 14 community road micro-enterprises for maintaining gravel roads and installing an asphalt plant in the Jubones basin through Asfaltar EP to decentralize work efforts.

Gabriela Ochoa, representing the Partido Social Cristiano (PSC), introduces the Vialidad y Conectividad Productiva program. Her plan aims to transform the 17 road rings identified in the Plan de Desarrollo y Ordenamiento Territorial (PDOT) into economic corridors, connecting communities with cultivation areas, collection centers, and markets.

Gustavo Sánchez, from the Avanza party, names his proposal Azuay Conectado. By 2027, his plan seeks to complete a georeferenced inventory and functional hierarchy of the provincial road network. By 2031, goals include intervening in at least 15 productive and logistical corridors, constructing or rehabilitating 20 rural bridges, and geotectonically stabilizing 40 critical points prone to emergencies.

Paolo Carpio, from the Acción Nacional Democrática (ADN) movement, includes the Territorial Integration and Connectivity Axis in his plan. This proposal focuses on preventive and corrective maintenance of the rural road network, road repair, and planning new road axes based on productive and social criteria.

Ángel Cartuche, from the Pachakutik movement, proposes the Caminos para el Desarrollo program. This initiative features five strategic components: the Provincial Road Network for Development, the Bridges and Artworks Program, the Provincial Machinery System, Permanent Road Maintenance, and Productive and Tourist Corridors.

Consuelo Orellana, from the La Provincia en Marcha alliance, presents the Azuay en Movimiento program. Her goals include executing road maintenance on 300 kilometers by 2031 and investing in the progressive improvement and asphalt paving of the provincial network. The plan also involves strengthening Asfaltar EP, referencing the provincial road network inventory of 6,035.19 kilometers.

David López, from the Igualdad movement, names his proposal Azuay se Mueve. By 2031, his plan sets a cumulative goal to intervene in 160 kilometers of prioritized corridors through asphalt paving or bituminous treatments. It also contemplates permanent maintenance of the gravel network, with a program of up to 700 kilometers annually for 2031.

Pablo Webster, from the Nueva Generación movement, offers the Azuay Conectado y con Visión de Futuro program. His proposal includes improving rural roads that connect production areas with irrigation systems, collection centers, and markets. Commitments also involve a program for the construction and improvement of bridges, culverts, walls, and drainage works to reduce vulnerability to climatic phenomena.

Sources: elmercurio.com.ec.

Image: AI-generated illustration.