The Government Council of the Tenerife Island Council approved, on Wednesday, a 100% discount for the courses within the Primary Sector Training Plan for the year 2024. This initiative will benefit 2,000 individuals who will be able to receive training for free, thanks to the allocation of 14,000 euros from the island’s funds. The President, Rosa Dávila, referred to this as a “symbolic amount” amidst the crisis affecting the island’s agricultural sector. This is the money that will not be charged to those citizens this year for their training in agricultural and livestock activities.
Against Drought. Dávila confirmed the support of the tourism and industrial sectors for the water emergency that the island is facing. She used the example of CocaCola, which has made its recycled water available for the treatment system. She also mentioned that technicians from companies and the Council itself are analysing the flow that can be offered to the field. Additional measures include financing treatment plants that will enable 2,000 farmers to access quality water. She also highlighted the initiative of Fasnia, Arico, and Icod de los Vinos to rationalize consumption. She focused on the “decrease” in the 23 reservoirs and on making the largest amount of water available to farmers, actions in which she appreciated that “everyone wants to contribute actively”.
MeteoTenerife. The Government Council awarded the contract for the design and development of the MeteoTenerife web platform for real-time weather information visualisation. The Phase 1 will be undertaken by the company Vexiza SL for 90,000 euros. The viewer will serve as a support tool for monitoring weather conditions during civil protection emergency operations, as well as in adverse situations and emergencies. It represents a valuable tool with more accurate predictions in collaboration with the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) for making decisions regarding observed phenomena such as heavy rain or wind gusts. Its utility is notable in facing any type of natural or man-made risk that requires the monitoring of climatic variables such as forest fires.
The Upcoming DANA. Rosa Dávila informed that the Council is “monitoring” an adverse weather situation, an Isolated High-Level Depression (DANA) expected for this week. She indicated that they will soon announce the measures to be taken as it approaches the island and could bring rain and winds. The approaching upper-level storm is, for now, “difficult to predict,” she noted, but assured that they are “remaining vigilant” alongside Civil Protection and the municipalities. Regarding the “dry and hot” winter, she recalled that since March 1, the Fire Prevention Plan has been active and “soon” concrete measures will be announced.
Demographic Challenge. Dávila expressed support for the call made by her party colleague, Fernando Clavijo, for the Presidents of the seven councils to analyse the demographic growth of Canary Islands, as she emphasized, “it is different between the green islands and the capital ones, for example, and even within Tenerife itself”. She detailed the trend of depopulation in the Isla Baja area compared to areas with foreseeable issues in guaranteeing services or housing. She provided a statistic: 14,000 people enter the island every day. “The role of councils is indispensable,” she concluded.
Millions for Culture. The Council approved a budget of 1.9 million euros to promote cultural activities “in all municipalities”. The Vice President, Lope Afonso, explained that municipalities and their public sector will receive 580,000 euros, businesses will receive 700,000, and NGOs will receive 674,000. He highlighted the public-private collaboration.
[–>
