The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, made public his desire for a new department to be created in the country. The Colombian president explained that he would like to be able to “territorially organize” the Magdalena Medio area to, among other things, give it autonomy because in that region there needs to be greater efficiency in the functioning of the institutions.
The region proposed by the new National Government is characterized because the Magdalena River crosses it, which facilitates the connection between the municipalities that make it up, which are in departments such as Bolívar, Cesar, Santander, Antioquia, Tolima, Caldas, Boyacá and Cundinamarca , mostly.
Faced with this approach that includes the municipality of Puerto Boyacá, Boyacá Noticias wanted to know reactions to the possibility that this municipality will be removed from the department and conform to the new territorial entity. Mayor Jikli Esgardo Mutis Isaza assured: “it is very important that the National Government sets its eyes on Magdalena Medio and understands the importance that this region has for the development of the country. When faced with the formation of a new department, the communities and authorities must be socialized and listened to in order to make a decision that benefits the communities in a consulted manner.”
The parliamentarians of Boyacá also referred. Senator César Pachón indicated that the community of Magdalena Medio has asked for many years to create a department, but this decision must be addressed in a consensual manner, where the community and authorities express whether they agree or not.
For his part, representative Jaime Raúl Salamanca expressed that he appreciates that the National Government wants to support the Magdalena Medio, he proposes that instead of creating a department, an Administrative Planning Region should be created that integrates the municipalities that are on the banks of the Magdalena River and that can build projects that strengthen the productive processes and development of the region.
Representative Wilmer Castellanos indicated that creating a new department is complex, that Puerto Boyacá is part of the department and a presence has been made there; He invited the national government to advance the Boyacá transversal route that will connect the center of the country with the Magdalena Medio and consolidate the navigability of the river.
For his part, Eduar Triana Rincón, representative of the Natural Chamber of western Boyacá, indicated that it is a capricious initiative by President Petro. “The creation will generate a high cost to the country and affect royalties for the departments, it is an issue that must be analyzed and that at this time is not viable for the country under any circumstances.”
Deputy Armando Quiñonez assured that neither the deputies, nor the departmental government, the productive sector and the community do not agree that the department should be segregated and that Puerto Boyacá should be removed to annex it to another territorial entity.
Meanwhile, among the inhabitants of Puerto Boyacá, opinions are divided, many see it as convenient to consolidate this new department, since they consider that the royalty resources produced there would remain for the Magdalena Medio, generating projects to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants. of this region. Those who oppose it argue that it is a costly issue, where it is not clear what the capital and the regions or municipalities involved would be, since they will not allow their territory to be taken away, in addition to the fact that royalties are vital for their operation and execution of projects. The discussion is just beginning. (End – Fredy González – UACP – URT)
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