The proposal made by public sector employers will update the structural safety standards for bridges, dams and minor works, and includes guidelines for reinforcing existing works.
Twelve public and private entities are preparing a code to mandate the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings, for its submission to Congress this year.
"It is important to have a building code that integrates all the rules of planning, design, construction, materials, quality control, monitoring, and for its application to be made obligatory" said Luis Alvarez, CEO of Institute of Cement and Concrete of Guatemala (ICCG) to s21.com.gt .
One million square meters are awaiting construction permits in a country where 13 institutions have to be visited in order to collect a license.
For the Municipality of Guatemala to give out a building permit, the applicant must obtain approval from the Ministries of Environment, Culture and Sports, the General Property Registry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the National Forestry Institute, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, the Office for Territorial Control and the district capital departments of Works, Historic Center, Environment and Land and from the Empagua.
The poor state of rural roads in Guatemala are harming producers, traders and passengers, meanwhile authorities are failing to address the problem.
“Last winter there were numerous landslides and erosions on routes used to transport goods and passengers in rural Guatemala. The affected routes are mainly in Granados, Cubulco, Rabinal, San Miguel and Purulhá Chicaj, " informed PrensaLibre.com.
The government has authorized 440 construction projects to be carried out to repair damage caused by last year’s natural disasters.
In response to tropical storm Agatha and the eruption of the Pacaya volcano, the Guatemalan national disaster center (Conred) has issued certificates backing the projects.
“According to Conred, two organizations will carry out 89% of the work: the country's Institute for Regional Development (Covial) and its Highways Fund (Covial) with 198 and 195 projects respectively,” reports Prensalibre.com.
A fund will be created to improve disaster prevention and response, and to aid affected regions.
“The resources might only be used after a national emergency declaration or a in a state of Public Calamity. Both scenarios require a Presidential decree ratified by Congress”, reported Prensalibre.com.
The loan was subscribed with the Inter-American Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and was ratified by the Guatemalan Congress today.