The initiative to restore the surface of the Southern Highway (TF-1) in the stretch between Arico, Fasnia, and Güímar, which will entail an investment exceeding 30 million, is set to commence on November 11 and will continue for six months, with work taking place during the night. This announcement was made yesterday by the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, alongside the island’s vice president, Lope Afonso, following the Government Council meeting.
Dávila indicated that this is a “very significant” project as the road surface in this area is “severely deteriorated,” necessitating a complete overhaul of the driving surface, not only on the highway itself but also including its junctions. Moreover, the implementation of rumble strips along the edges of the road, repainting, as well as the installation of rigid concrete barriers and parapets on bridges, will take place. These works represent one of the most substantial restoration efforts on TF-1 in recent years, they emphasised.
In a related announcement, Lope Afonso revealed that the Government Council has also sanctioned “a contribution of 47,496.60 euros to Balten for the installation project of water conduits linking the Cepsa tank, located within the current facilities of the Refinery, and the Balten pumping station.” “This action is expected to integrate an average of 1,500 cubic metres of desalinated water daily for farmers in the northeast and south regions, with over 50,000 cubic metres of surplus water from the Cepsa company’s tank on a monthly basis,” stated the island’s vice president, who underscored that this is part of the strategy aimed at achieving “increased irrigation water flow within the institutional agreement on water emergencies.”
Housing
Additionally, Lope Afonso reported that the Council has given the green light to “the final annex of the island housing rehabilitation programme for 2024,” amounting to nearly 2.4 million, which “will be allocated among 29 of the 31 municipalities on the Island, with only two remaining excluded (Arona and Granadilla),” he noted.
Moreover, the multiannual expenditure of the IASS was approved concerning the agreement to be established with the non-profit organisation Asociación Solidaria Mundo Nuevo for managing a Specialized Protection Centre that offers comprehensive care for children and adolescents with disabilities, focused on residential care for those under the guardianship or custody of the General Directorate of Child and Family Protection. The centre will cater to a maximum of 8 individuals, with the agreement representing a total investment of 1,136,578 euros, spanning from 2024 to 2026.
Dávila reminded everyone of the agreement signed last Monday with the Canary Islands Government, which provides a grant of 15 million to the Cabildo. This funding will facilitate the creation of 181 new dependency positions and reflect the intention to acquire the Cristo barracks in La Laguna to convert it into a large socio-health centre. “The process has been initiated by Defence for the disaffection, and we anticipate that in a month it will be presented to the Council of Ministers for acquisition by the Cabildo,” she remarked.
Esland Awards
In response to concerns raised by the PSOE regarding the Cabildo’s allocation of 1.2 million to bring the Esland Awards of the YouTuber TheGrefg to the Island, Rosa Dávila clarified that only 300,000 euros had been budgeted (a figure that was not specified in the planned modification) “for a forum, in the hypothetical scenario that the awards take place in Tenerife, which also serves to provide training for young individuals from the Island alongside visitors attending the awards.” She further noted that Tenerife is part of “a candidacy alongside other major cities competing to host” these awards, which are “entirely private.”
Moreover, she expressed the Cabildo’s support for the forest initiative proposed by the Canarian Government and indicated that they will assess its implementation in collaboration with the Cabildo of Gran Canaria.
