Asunción, Agencia IP.- The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, led this Monday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers in Mburuvicha Róga. On the occasion, he asked to avoid isolated efforts. He remembered that “our signature must be the coordinated work at the service of all Paraguayans”.
During the encounter, it was aborded many topics, such as the actions to execute to improve the quality of life of Paraguayans.
The President thanked the Ministers for exchanging visions to advance the government’s goals through the combined actions of different institutions.
Peña also asked to avoid isolated efforts and, in exchange, to coordinate actions to reach more Paraguayans, especially those who are living in vulnerability. “The problem is from all of us, and therefore, the solution will come from all of us”, he said.
“This is a time investment that we are doing, and it helps to be in the same syntony and working coordinately. In a short time, we will probably have a meeting of all the cabinet, where all the ministers and secretariats are, just as presidents of institutions. Because this is all about, to impulse a state that works coordinately responding to the objectives we have”, he commented.
“I assure you that if we work coordinately, we all pull the car in the same direction. And there is nothing we cannot quickly achieve”, he said.
Issues addressed by the Ministers
Among the analyzed topics was the waterway Paraguay – Paraná, the debt of Argentina with the Binational Entity Yacyretá (EBY, by its acronym in Spanish), just like the audits and inspections of different entities.
Another axis addressed was the Communication Plan. Peña asked to be fluid and that everything headed along the same path.
“We are advancing rapidly on the Communication Plan, reaching the 100th first day that is not a commitment, and it is not written in any law. But it is fundamental that those 100th first days we can communicate the measures that we have impulse, our current situation and the imprint we want to put into our management”, indicated the President.
He highlighted the importance of establishing closeness with the citizens, balancing cabinet work, and being close to people. He admitted that a big part of the problems is outside the offices, and it is vital to be close to the troubles to provide a solution.
The combat against poverty was also discussed during the day. Peña reminded that it is a job for the government, for each of the ministers and their work teams.
Regarding this, the Ministry of Social Development (MDS, by its acronym in Spanish) informed that it is reorganizing the National Plan for the Combat Against Poverty, which will be presented in November after socialization and adjustments.
“We have to help families leave poverty, considering they fall into extreme poverty very easily. The effort combined and articulated allows us to solve big problems”, emphasized the President.
Regarding the indigenous issue, the President instructed all his ministers to collaborate with the actions of the Paraguayan Institute of Indigenous (INDI, by its acronym in Spanish) to address a much broader approach and thus address the needs of indigenous communities.
“We need to collaborate between all, because a big problem we have is that indigenous communities are not receiving the responses they need, and that is why they are transferring into the Capital”, he indicated.
Peña encouraged the institutions to go into the communities to interiorize to the necessities and establish a much more effective policy under the leadership of the INDI.
In that order, the authorities also addressed the laws in the treatment process in Congress, specifically the General Budget 2024. Regarding this, the President specifically asked to respect the project elevated from the executive branch, which he claims is the most realistic possible.
Peña admitted that the resources will never be enough since many requirements exist. Nevertheless, he asserted that it can be done much more with its current existence. He appealed to be prudent when making requests.
“The ideal is to go and ask for the approval of the budget like it is now, and that goes for all ministries. It probably will not be enough for everything we want to pursue. Still, we will have to make more with the same resources”, explained the Ministry of Economy, Carlos Fernández Valdovinos.
“Working with the parliament, I hope everyone has fluent communication and assistance when summoned by the different commissions,” highlighted the President.
“For me, as the Head of the Executive Branch, there is something unnegotiable: Order, discipline and communication. There is only one communication, the one from the Paraguayan Government. Each of you is the best communicator of your ministries. It is key that we use the tools provided to us by Mitic and the different institutions in a communication subject to work on the axis”, mentioned Peña.
During the last part of the reunion, each Minister summarised the immediate challenges facing the next 50 days, and they compromised to provide viability to the requirements taught by President Peña.