During the National Meeting of Entrepreneurs (Enade) 2017 the proposal to create the Superintendence of Road Infrastructure (Sivial) arose, an institution that would be an autonomous entity with the function of planning, tendering and contracting infrastructure works.

From the beginning, it was proposed that the Sivial would be composed of intendancies that would be in charge of the supervision and compensation for the developers of the projects. The plan is for the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (Civ) to maintain the lead in infrastructure matters, but with functions more attached to the design of public policies.

So far, Initiative 5431, the General Law of Road Infrastructure, has only passed the first debate in Congress and according to the congressmen there is a chance that in the coming weeks it will be known in a second debate.

You may be interested in "Road Infrastructure: $4.3 Billion in New Projects"

Allan Rodriguez, president of the Congress told Prensalibre.com that "... more discussion of the content is needed, a table was set up for that purpose in which the Minister of Communications and other sectors also participate. Amendments are needed, but it is not impossible that it can advance in the second debate."

Arguing that the institutions should not be given excessive power, there are deputies who reject the proposal to create the Sivial.

Enrique Montano, explained that "... several changes must be made to the initiative, since it is not convenient to create a regulatory entity such as Sivial. This regulatory figure has worked in the electricity sector, but the arrival of CICIG has taught the country that it is no longer necessary to create super powers or super powerful men within the State. The proposed figure will cause the president of the Association of Engineers or the Association of Architects to become the most sought-after positions in all of Guatemala because they are the ones who would assign which projects are good or bad in road infrastructure."

Starting next week, the Congress plans to open a third day of full sessions so that all economic initiatives can be known. See full initiative.

Source: prensalibre.com

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