The builders make a “desperate and anguished” appeal» so that the authorities «fix the Administration». In constant growth since the start of the pandemic, this industry is in a position to create “20,000 jobs immediately» only by having the licenses pending approval for a year. “Urgent measures must be taken,” he says. Óscar Izquierdo, president of the provincial construction employers’ association, Fepeco, for whom this sector “is the structural base of any productive system” and more than 150,000 people in Canary Islands60,000 directly.
The sector defends that construction is the structural base of any production system
This was stated at the Construction Industrialization Forum on the Islands, organized by the newspaper EL DÍA, head of Prensa Ibérica in Tenerifesponsored by the Provincial Federation of Construction Entities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Fepeco), Arystone Properties, Cercasa, Construction Labor Foundation, CaixaBank and Prefabricated Teide. Meeting held yesterday at the Real Casino de Tenerife.
Óscar Izquierdo maintains that “the system does not work” and “the Canarian administration is an anarchy” in which teleworking “is not the solution.” This sector is the greatest driver of the economy and job creation, being essential for the activity of other economic sectors. In addition to this premise, the president of Fepeco defends that “the technological revolution we are experiencing has led to an important change in construction, with new construction methods, new materials, latest-generation machinery and the incorporation of specific high-level training for their workers. All this leads him to lead a new modern and dynamic work model, which benefits our society”.
«This model allows architectural creativity, adapted to the client»
The modernization of this industry is reflected in its rapid incorporation into the Green Agenda of the European Union. Energy efficiency, universal accessibility, digitization and comprehensive urban renewal “is being done in the Canary Islands”. Izquierdo points out the fact as an achievement that emanates from the “very important generational change in the management of construction companies.”
Independence
Fepeco, as an employer of the sector in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, “since its independence, has been defending the general interests of the sector and the companies that comprise it for more than 45 years, its activity being a key pillar for social welfare and quality of life in the Islands. Based on this conviction, its president maintains that “it is the only industry in the Canary Islands that creates a region. The data reflects it. Mathematically they are parallel, balanced and synonymous in job creation, number of companies and in production between both provinces. There has never been a confrontation or lawsuit in the sector between both provinces.
“Construction cannot stop and wait for the administration’s times”
Óscar Izquierdo did not miss the opportunity to send messages to the Canarian political class before the start of a new term -from tomorrow, in the case of the town halls-, for which he warns that “from Fepeco we will be very attentive and we will continue to be vindictive, as independent business organization, asking for the Canary Islands what is needed in public infrastructure. We will be inflexible in what corresponds to us and we will do the same before Madrid, from which we will ask what corresponds to the Canary Islands ».
The Provincial Federation of Construction Entities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a “dynamic, participatory and demanding” business organization. Fepeco is a clear and courageous voice in the defense of its ideas”, stated its president, who in his speech made another appeal: Join Fepeco, a commitment from and for everyone, because construction is life!
The presence of women in the construction industry is not accidental and continues to increase
Canarias registers the best employment data of the last six years in this sector. After two years of stagnation at 9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the contribution of construction to the economy of the Islands has risen by half a point to 9.5% thanks to reform, rehabilitation, conservation and maintenance. This is how the director of EL DÍA sums it up, Joaquín Catalán, who drew the scenario in which the industrialization of construction is advancing.
“It would be necessary to comply with what was promised to those affected on La Palma”
The examples
On the stage of the Real Casino de Tenerife, examples of the growth experienced by this way of building were exhibited, although its relevance is currently low (1% in the country compared to 40% registered in points of Europe). .
David Hernández, project manager of Arystone Properties, spoke about the elaboration of panels to build houses made in situ, with the latest technology and quality. La Palma was one of his references. In addition to asking that those affected be fulfilled “with what they were promised,” he pointed out the work that his company develops on the Island.
Izquierdo criticized the use of containers for those affected by the volcano instead of using this system
José Guillén, Cercasa’s head of administration, reviewed the history of this company created in 1969, which since 2010 has been managed by the new generation, Olga María and Manuel Ángel Sanfiel.
This company, in 2020, establishes a commercial alliance with Modiko Homes to distribute an industrialized construction system in the Canary Islands. It is a commitment to innovation and development processes, with responses of excellence. Based on an industrialized and patented manufacturing process, this construction system is the result of the interconnection of several advanced technology metallic structural elements, which are later assembled directly on site. It constitutes a constructive solution of high performance, rapid execution and extreme versatility and a significant reduction in energy consumption and air conditioning. In addition, this system allows full architectural creativity, adapting to the client’s requests and the architect’s design.
«Reduces execution times, waste generation and carbon footprint»
This exhibition by Guillén is a clear example of the new way of building that is being imposed. This is also where Prefabricados Teide, a company from the Fedola Group, enters. A pioneer in industrialized construction, “because we have been implementing this construction system for 20 years”, its market turns from large areas built up to now -they will continue in it- towards the residential branch “with prefabricated concrete houses”
clear benefits
Cristo Hernández, director of Prefabricados Teide, defends this construction model with simplicity: “It reduces execution times and waste generation, cares much more for the environment, reduces the carbon footprint and creates more comfortable homes with very high quality systems, In addition to reducing water consumption. To all this he adds another very relevant piece of information: “Industrial construction is providing a solution to the lack of labor, offers quality jobs and is compatible with family reconciliation”.
The employer warns the rulers of the new mandate that it will remain vigilant and demanding
Concepción Rojas, manager of the Construction Labor Foundation, made clear the role of training. The tens of thousands of construction workers who pass through the Labor Foundation’s classrooms each year are proof of the effort applied in the more than 50 of its own training centers, in which an offer made up of more than 200 actions is provided. with the collaboration of more than 1,400 teachers throughout Spain, and the preparation and constant updating of more than 140 own manuals on different subjects in the sector.
“Housing sales are slowing down and there will be slight price growth this year and in 2024”
Rojas pointed out the application of modern technology throughout the construction process, such as the evaluation of the soil, the design and the execution of the projects. He emphasized the need for training and highlighted the need to promote employability and professionalization in construction, as well as the importance of attracting new workers to the sector to enhance the competitiveness of companies. The role of women was revealed during her intervention, not only as part of the management group, but “on the front line”. Her words may well serve to summarize the philosophy of the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción: “You are what you propose, dream and build”.
Prices and data
Antonio Triana González, director of the CaixaBank Real Estate Business Center in the Canary Islands, focused on the global economic data, which point to a reduction in the interest rate, he said, and on instilling encouragement in a capacity that already manages positive figures for the sector.
The Canary Islands register the best employment data of the last six years in this sector
Among its references, it should be noted that 28.5% of the homes sold in the Canary Islands are purchased citizens foreigners, especially Germans, Italians and English. He assured that the latest studies determine that the housing shortage in Tenerife is something that affects the entire island.
When talking about housing prices, he admitted that a certain moderation is reflected, that sales are slowing down and he announced that there will be a slight growth in prices this year and in 2024, more accentuated in the year 2025, he advanced. As curious data Adeje, the ninth most expensive municipality.
“Without training there is nothing, there are no prospects or incentives”
The president of Fepeco, Óscar Izquierdo, assured at the EL DÍA Forum Industrialization of construction in the Canary Islands that construction is the only sector in Spain without labor disputes, in which good understanding between employers and unions is essential. Likewise, he valued this constructive model for the great benefits it brings and alluded to the Tajogaite volcano. The summary is clear: «To the Government of the Canary Islands we offered you these construction models for La Palma. They preferred containers and wooden sheds to industrialized construction.
Modular construction is still incipient in the Islands but in Europe it reaches 40%
The talk
The Forum concluded with a discussion moderated by the deputy director of EL DÍA, Jorge Dávila, who raised questions regarding the present and future of construction. Of the responses of the speakers, it is worth noting the reference to “the presence of cranes as a symptom of the prevalence of the sector”, that is, of the importance that this industry maintains in the Canarian economy; the fact that human teams and labor will continue to be very important in this era of industrialized construction, in which the role of women is increasing. Their presence in the industry is a fact and is produced by generational renewal as a consequence of the incorporation of women into the labor market, in general. And one last thought: «Not forgetting what the past is is not forgetting identity. Without training there is nothing, there are no prospects or incentives”, as stated by Concepción Rojas, manager of the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción.
