Asunción, Agencia IP.- The Government of Paraguay announced the start of sanitary sewer works in the city of Caazapá, which will benefit over 12,000 families in the department. The project is financed by the Mercosur Structural Convergence Fund (FOCEM) through non-reimbursable resources.
The announcement was made during a Government Day led by the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, and attended by the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare, María Teresa Barán, who highlighted the initiative’s impact on public health. «Today, the implementation of this sanitary sewer system is a reality, thanks to FOCEM’s contribution. This will be of great benefit to the health system because having and accessing clean water means health,» she stated.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Caazapá, Christian Acosta, emphasized the importance of reactivating the project: «It will help improve the quality of life and health of more than 12,000 residents.»
The total investment amounts to approximately USD 3 million, of which over USD 2 million comes from Mercosur’s non-reimbursable funds. The project includes the construction of a modern sanitation system, featuring a wastewater treatment plant, two pumping stations, collection networks, and household connections.
President Santiago Peña stressed the relevance of FOCEM as a mechanism for regional integration: «FOCEM is a Mercosur convergence fund, an agreement that has been in place for decades and through which member states contribute to carrying out projects with enormous social and economic impact. Paraguay has benefited, just as Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina have.»
The project is part of the program «Construction and Improvement of Potable Water and Basic Sanitation Systems in Small Rural and Indigenous Communities in the Country,» which seeks to reduce infant morbidity and mortality through access to adequate potable water and sanitation services, as well as to expand coverage and sustainability of these essential services in vulnerable communities.
In Paraguay, Mercosur has already financed 21 projects in infrastructure, social inclusion, and connectivity, with over USD 640 million in non-reimbursable funds. With this level of investment, Paraguay stands as the largest beneficiary of FOCEM, with an average annual contribution of USD 1 million.