On the first anniversary of the agreement between CC and the PP at the helm of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, the president of the Corporation, has evaluated her term in office, along with the majority group in the institution, the PSOE. While highlighting that the island is now more dynamic, the PSOE’s general secretary in Tenerife, Pedro Martín, has urged action on housing and resolving the dependency situation, which he claims is the worst in all of the Canary Islands. He also called for a halt to the announcements regarding mobility and road improvements that have yet to yield results.
As a result, Martín has urged Dávila to “cease daydreaming and making announcements” and instead “start addressing the issues affecting the people of Tenerife”.
Regarding Dávila’s statements about making Tenerife a trend, Martín added that the president’s primary challenge should not only be limited to that, but rather to tackling issues in housing, mobility, roads, social care, and the primary sector.
Pedro Martín cautioned that Rosa Dávila has become the “president of announcements,” recalling promises like resolving traffic congestion in 90 days, fully renovating the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium by 2025, or creating 2,800 social-healthcare spots in four years, none of which have materialised to date. “In fact, the Victoria residence has been completed for a year but remains closed. She also promised to safeguard La Tejita and launch an international competition for an aerial train construction,” noted the PSOE general secretary.
Pedro Martín expressed disappointment that the island president barely mentioned the challenges Tenerife residents face in accessing housing. He also lamented her disregard for the socialist proposal to establish an Island Housing Office, arguing that transferring funds to municipalities does not address the critical issue of promoting and initiating urban projects to facilitate construction, especially for smaller ones.
The socialist general secretary recalled that the first declaration of a water emergency was made in February but only implemented four months later. “I question whether the president truly believes the primary sector is in a better state today than a year ago,” he queried.
Enhancing Mobility
Pedro Martín highlighted that the initiatives to alleviate congestion in the north and south were prepared by the PSOE government for tendering. However, he noted, “they have been halted for a year by the Cabildo. The lack of interest from both the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo president, who allowed the loss of 13 million euros in European funds for starting bus and bus-VAO lanes in Tenerife, is a tragedy. The only ongoing project by the island government is the Padre Anchieta roundabout, which has been most publicised by the Cabildo and in which Mrs Dávila played no part, as it was already underway when she assumed office,” he recalled.
The president of the Socialist Group regretted that Rosa Dávila “takes credit for initiatives from the previous administration, such as the bus procurements, the decarbonisation plan for Balsas de Tenerife, the new access roads to the Güímar industrial estate, the Tenerife Mobility Plan, or the agreement with Aena that was finalised before our departure from the Cabildo,” Martín emphasised.
Martín asserts that Dávila also takes credit for projects like educational facilities or healthcare improvements, which fall under the responsibility of the Government of the Canary Islands. He also attributes successes in employment and Social Security affiliation to Dávila, issues where the role of the Spanish Government is evident. “Meanwhile,” he said.
– He fails to elaborate on the reasons why the Cabildo did not approve the economic resources for employment agreements with municipalities at the beginning of the year, as proposed by the Socialist Group. Due to the delay of the governing group, these plans will not be able to resume until the last quarter of the year.
Evaluation by the President
Reflecting on the past year, the President of the Island Council has described it as a period of “awakening” for an island that was stagnant in terms of growth, employment, and quality of life. The focus is now on getting back on track with a governing group that prioritises mobility, family, housing, and sustainability.
Dávila emphasised the significant support from the agreement between CC and PP in the Cabildo to tackle issues in Tenerife with determination and courage, with a budget of €1.041 billion for 2024.
He highlighted the positive impact of the agreement on unemployment rates and the active population survey on the island. “Tenerife’s unemployment rate was above 20%, surpassing the Canary Islands’ average. We have managed to reduce it to 14.2%, and 9 out of 10 jobs are now created on the island,” he stated.
The President reiterated that a key focus of her government is improving mobility through infrastructure projects and small decisions that aim to reduce traffic congestion. Additionally, she highlighted the Cabildo’s role as a leading local administration in Spain for scholarships and support policies.
Vice President Lope Afonso described the first year as an “activation of the island,” with a clear roadmap and a trust pact. He acknowledged that the challenges faced by the island are longstanding and will require determination to address effectively.
The island president and her government colleague highlighted the advancements in managing and promoting hospitals in both the north and south of the island to reduce waiting times and provide better care for patients. They also noted progress in the social-health plan of Tenerife, focusing on a comprehensive strategy to support vulnerable individuals.
Regional Minister Águeda Fumero discussed the updates to existing projects and the development of new initiatives related to social-health infrastructure, home care services, and collaborative policies with new entities.
Furthermore, a new agreement was signed in June 2024 with the Government of the Canary Islands, providing 468 additional places for dependent users in Tenerife. This is coupled with the launch of the Cabildo’s Comprehensive Plan for the Elderly in July to promote “quality active ageing.”
The president announced an imminent agreement to acquire the Cristo barracks in La Laguna from the City Council to transform them into a senior centre facilitated by the Institute of Social and Socio-Health Care (IASS).
Regarding housing, efforts are being made to implement the Activa Suelo and Activa Vivienda plans to offer housing to vulnerable individuals and families under social rental agreements. By the end of 2024, Tenerife aims to have 300 homes available, with an investment of €12 million, accommodating a total of 15,000 applicants.
Dávila highlighted the need for an economic and tourism model shift, emphasising that tourism alone is insufficient if it does not contribute to improving residents’ quality of life. She stressed the importance of an intelligent economic model that serves the citizens.
Ensuring sustainability in tourism is a priority for Tenerife, aiming to provide visitors with a more enjoyable experience beyond traditional “all-inclusive” packages. The focus is on enhancing the island’s quality of life to be the driving force behind tourism.
Lope Afonso suggested that society’s concerns on 20A primarily revolve around challenges in accessing housing, which has led to a perceived divide between tourism and society. He expressed willingness to address these issues and promote housing programs to increase social protection rental availability and comply with vacation housing laws.
He highlighted the importance of providing legal security to homeowners through state law in resolving pending housing issues.
