If the evaluation of the first 100 days of the CC-PP government in the council of Tenerife If it were an exam – it is, but in a different sense – the student would grade himself with that sound of “progressing adequately.” The president of the insular Corporation, Rosa Davila, In this case, he acted as a student when it came to analyzing the balance of a government “of two parties, but a single, solid bloc.” He valued his three months in office and focused his management on two factors. An external one, the added burden of the biggest catastrophe in 40 years, the devastating fire of 14,000 hectares, not yet extinct. Internally, he highlighted the work carried out by the Mobility and Roads area with “success” in the initial measures to alleviate the collapse in traffic and the recurring queues of vehicles on the two highways. The solution has public transport as its axis, endorsed by the gratuity that is intended to be maintained. Dávila ratified the message he launched before the electoral campaign on May 28: “We will alleviate the traffic collapse in 90 days.” He stressed that “with the support of the entire Tenerife society, results are already being seen.” He gave as an example that “the queues on the TF-5 (the northern highway) reached the municipality of La Orotava a few months ago and now the problems begin in the municipality of Tacoronte.” Dávila made it clear that “there is a long way to go,” but he also confirmed that “we have done more in 90 days to mitigate vehicle congestion on the highways and improve the mobility of the Island than the previous island government (PSOE-Citizens) in four years.”
The president of the Cabildo appeared this time “alone in the face of danger” and apologized to her usual companions, the vice presidents Lope Afonso (PP) and José Miguel Ruano (CC) who, precisely, were holding a meeting at the same time. She influenced the idea of Tenerife’s “change of course” in the first 100 days of her government. In addition to the already mentioned advances in Mobility, she highlighted among the main achievements those achieved in Employment and Education, as well as the recovery of “dialogue and consensus” with the municipalities as well as with the Government of the Canary Islands.
The fire is very present
The large forest fire that began on August 15 in the Arafo mountains, and remains active, planned throughout the appearance. Before analyzing the milestones achieved in these three months, the president expressed her gratitude for the work carried out by “all the people and institutions that have made it possible for it not to affect people.” She added: “We must highlight the professional value and human quality of those who have been at the forefront of the fight against the fire, made the technical decisions and bravely fought against the fire.” It included all the firefighting teams, Civil Protection, the State Security Corps and Forces, as well as the local and Canary Islands police. Furthermore, she made it clear that, in general, “the workforce has commitment and renewed enthusiasm; they just needed to make decisions with determination.” She announced a plan for reforestation until 2026 and expressed concern about the effect of possible rains on the soil. She warned that this fire has also served to foster “a change in our relationship with the natural environment.” The president thanked the political groups and her own government team for having overcome “the colors” to reach a unanimous plenary agreement that included a commitment to prevention and prioritization of the primary sector.
Change of course
“The first stage of the mandate, the initial hundred days, certify a change of direction and mood in island politics. “It is a new stage” remarked the president, she emphasized that “Tenerife’s great challenges are faced without fear and with determination”. But, she stated, “not only as a government group because the challenges are for the entire Tenerife society.” For this reason, she claimed that “we are accompanied by the economic and social agents who have joined in to make these changes.” Dávila concluded her initial reflection: “The transformation must modify and overcome the deep problems entrenched for years on the Island.” He also highlighted the importance of having regained dialogue with the mayors with the convocation of the Island Council of Territorial Administration (CIAT) or of resuming the model of the Strategic Framework for Island Development (MEDI) with the economic boost of the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN). . She also welcomed the return of this dialogue with the Government of Canary Islands as interlocutor.
twenty measures
Rosa Dávila also highlighted the 20 measures already publicized and implemented in terms of mobility to solve the serious problems that Tenerife suffers in this area. Between them, she staked the two shuttle buses to transport the students of the University of La Laguna (ULL), the reinforcement of public transport lines or the lowering of the travel limit for free trips from 15 to 10. He also made reference to the eight-day trial of closing access to the TF-5 from Guamasa. Without forgetting the changes in the signage of some black spots; the incorporation of 67 new drivers and 247 buses in Titsa – in the latter case with its own funds because “there was only a mere announcement when we arrived and 20 million loan requests from the banks”; or the removal of heavy vehicles from the two highways during rush hours, the first example of which, and he appreciated it, is that of the Martínez Cano company. He announced the signing this week of an agreement with Ashotel so that 1,800 workers from the north and south can travel to and from their jobs by bus. He also explained that an agreement has been finalized with the tow truck sector for the rapid removal of accident vehicles. He had words of gratitude for the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) and the Civil Guard. The president revealed when asked about the La Laguna bypass project and whether the BUS-HOV lane of the TF-5 will be a priority, that “the technical reports from the government of Pedro Martin were unfavorable.” The Government of the Canary Islands, he said, “carried out projects with unfavorable reports from the Cabildo Highway area.” He linked the work in the dialogue with the municipal governments to the “least possible impact because there will always be one” with that third lane. from the north. Dávila stated that the variant is not ruled out, but the priority is the third lanes in the south and the north, in addition to the commitment to public transportation. Dávila offered a piece of information: the expected increase from 6% in 2021 to 20 % at the end of the mandate in the preference in the use and transfer of users from private vehicles to buses or trams. The intention regarding the light metro is to take it to Muñeco de Nieve, the most advanced project, to the Southwest of Santa Cruz, to the neighborhood capital of Anaza, in the same area, and in Tacoronte, after passing through the Los Rodeos airport. The improvement of this, like that of Tenerife South, “we have defended before AENA because it affects us whether it is our responsibility or not.”
90 day letter
“We have done more in 90 days to improve traffic than the previous government team did in four years,” said Rosa Dávila. With “concrete measures that allow us to affirm today that an important part of the queues have been alleviated.” He insisted that “we have confirmed this because if six months ago the traffic jams began in La Orotava, now the queues are as high as Tacoronte.” He once again referred to the work “of a team” with “enormous determination and courage.” Above all , he emphasized, “without fear of making mistakes because we can do it, but we are not going to give up or sit idly by in the face of a serious problem that had to be addressed decisively.”
The first achievements
Dávila detailed the achievements achieved in these three months with the policies promoted from the areas of Employment, Education, Youth, Training and a new area, created especially, Education for Prevention. The latter addresses mental health problems and suicidality “with a high rate among our young people,” he noted. The first lines of action for 2024 in the field of mental health and healthy habits have a budget of more than two million euros.
Dávila highlighted in this sense, “our commitment to promoting conciliation and that all families can choose the children’s center from 0 to 3 years old where they can take their children.” For this, a sum of 1.2 million euros is allocated, with up to 800 per child. “In the coming weeks the rules will be published,” revealed the island president. In the same way, she mentioned the program Neighborhoods for Employment: Stronger Together which is endowed with two million euros to promote employment among third sector entities and, in addition, the promotion of the program for the preparation of people who lack formal training so that they can take the Key Skills for Access tests. a Certificates of Professionalism that have 3.9 million euros.
Regarding the educational and health field, Rosa Dávila highlighted that important steps have been taken in subjects “that had been left behind” such as university scholarships, special needs scholarships, Vocational training and artistic studies (5.7 million euros); those for linguistic immersion for the period between 2024 and 2026 for 3.7 million; the Curricular support program for educational centers 2023-2024 with an investment of 1.3 million. He confirmed the open line of full collaboration with the University of La Laguna (ULL).
The president of the Cabildo valued the recovery of the Tenerife Moda brand and the design of its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which is based on three fundamental pillars: excellence in design and production, development of local talent and sustainability and international projection. She also highlighted the Insular Historical Heritage Plan until 2027 and the “new strategy” in Housing in favor of affordable rentals such as those of the first 50-story development in La Laguna. She also recalled the “good work” developed in the tourism sector, led by the vice president, Lope Afonso, based on an improvement in the infrastructure of the landscape environment in parallel with those of the hotel and non-hotel plant.
Rosa Dávila expressed her concern because the Government of the Canary Islands, as is the case with other councils, claim the return of some items by not developing the Social and Health Plan. He trusts that, through institutional dialogue, this will not happen and “the citizen, especially those who are most vulnerable, will not pay for the paralysis of the previous mandate.” He concluded with the idea that “there are still many pending challenges, but I am optimistic because we have begun the path of a new direction for the Island, always with our feet on the ground.”
