Mayor Zamora Uses Cuenca's 469th Birthday Speech to Pitch a Regional Health System
Cuenca Expat Staff
The Speech
On April 12, 2026, Cuenca held its traditional Sesión Solemne at the Salón de la Ciudad to mark 469 years since the city's founding — and Mayor Cristian Zamora used the stage to pitch something big.
Per El Mercurio: "El fortalecimiento de un sistema municipal de salud con proyección regional y latinoamericana marcó el discurso del alcalde Cristian Zamora durante la Sesión Solemne por los 469 años de fundación de Cuenca" (source).
In plain English: Zamora wants to build out a municipal health system that punches regionally, and eventually at a Latin American scale.
The Health Pitch
Zamora's plan is to position Cuenca as a reference point in public health, run by the municipality, with a network that treats patients and generates research at the same time.
His phrase from the speech: "Quiero abrir las puertas a las universidades...sean centro del saber, centros de investigación."
Read that as: turn city hospitals into teaching hospitals and research centers, not just ERs.
Who Showed Up
The session filled the Salón de la Ciudad with Cuenca's civic roster:
- Vice Mayor Marisol Peñaloza
- Azuay Prefect Juan Cristóbal Lloret
- Archbishop Marcos Pérez Caicedo
- Representatives from various entities and the general public
Governor Xavier Bermúdez made a pointed comment about President Noboa's relationship with Cuenca, saying he "ha estado más de 16 veces en Cuenca" — the executive has visited more than 16 times without needing festivals as an excuse.
What This Means for You
- Watch the health system story. If Cuenca pulls this off, it means better municipal healthcare options over time — which matters a lot to retirees and expat families weighing IESS versus private insurance.
- These are multi-year moves. The Sesión Solemne is where priorities get signaled, not where things get built next Tuesday. But it tells you where the administration's focus is trending.
- Foundation Week is in full swing. The Sesión Solemne is the anchor civic event, but shops, concerts, and museums around El Centro are all leaning into the anniversary this week. Good time to walk around.
Source: El Mercurio
