The construction contract, which amounts to 35,216,830,005 pesos and has a 10-month execution period, has already expired and there is still no university in El Banco, Magdalena.
By: Arnol Sarmiento
In the different municipalities of the Magdalena department it has become customary to see billboards announcing mega works by the administration of the Fuerza Ciudadana movement, billboards that over time end up deteriorated or abandoned, just like the work itself.
The same case happens with the promised work of the University Headquarters in the municipality of El Banco, Magdalena, where in the administration of former governor Carlos Caicedo, on July 27, 2023, the contract described as “CONSTRUCTION OF THE ‘CENTRO CAMBIA’ SUBREGIONAL UNIVERSITY HEADQUARTERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF EL BANCO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGDALENA” for a value of 35,216,830,005 pesos with the contractor supplier Educational Change Consortium. Said work contract indicates that its execution was to begin on September 22, 2023 with an execution period of 10 months.
This 10-month period, as referred to in the minutes signed in this case by the head of the Magdalena Government Contracting Office, Jenny Camacho Nueto, expired on the day June 22, 2024. But today, June 26, 2024Taking into account the information contained in the minutes and the billboard, OPINIÓN CARIBE undertook the task of verifying the status of this work that promised to benefit 4,500 people in this area of the department of Magdalena, taking into account that the within 10 months of the more than 35 billion pesos contracted.
But what do you think? Time has passed, the fence lost its color and with it the hopes of the people of Banqueños. Today, June 26, 2024, CARIBBEAN OPINION At the scene it was evident that this work is not yet ready and that its progress has been slow, even though this work had to be delivered on June 22. But hey, fulfilling the deliveries of the works promised by the Fuerza Ciudadana governments within the stipulated deadlines has always been an anxiety, such as the IED Taganga work in Santa Marta or the CDI of Bonda, where they spent years and promises but clearly as of today they do not exist.
Despite the fact that this work is not yet finished and that its delivery period has already expired as contracted, in recent days, the Government of Magdalena, through a statement, indicated that after the approval of the Departmental Assembly of the debt by 300 billion pesos, these resources were destined for the “Endowment of the two university headquarters (El Banco and Plato).” Here one wonders, which university?
The curious thing in this statement, where the Government talks about the destination of the 300 billion in loans that are going to be acquired, is that “the subregional university headquarters is going to be built in Ciénaga, which will accommodate 4,000 young people.” Promises that on paper are a piece of cake for the Fuerza Ciudadana governments, but if Plato and El Banco have not finished, will Ciénaga’s have?
CARIBBEAN OPINION will closely follow the progress and movements that occur within this project, which is expected not to become another “white elephant” in the department and that it will actually be delivered for the use of the more than 4 thousand people who It seems they will benefit.
