The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stressed on São Miguel that the Government of the Azores has always responded in situations of damages caused by the natural disasters that have hit the archipelago.
Vítor Fraga spoke at the signing of the consignment agreement for the contract work for the replacement of safety conditions in the section of the Regional Road no.1-1 in Tosquiada, municipality of Nordeste. He stressed that the ceremony "is much more" than the act itself.
"It represents our ability to continue building a better Azores on a daily basis," Vítor Fraga said, adding that it also represents "the force and determination to overcome all the difficulties, even those that are imposed by the forces of nature."
In his speech, the Regional Secretary considered that this contract work is "another step" for the conclusion of a series of interventions arising from the natural disaster that hit the island in September 2015, recalling the Government's immediate response to this situation.
"While some told us to resort to banks to face the unforeseen costs of the disaster, the Government of the Azores has always been present, providing a response within its reach to restore the normal life of all Azoreans," stressed the government official.
The contract work, whose consignment agreement was signed today, includes a series of comprehensive interventions already underway that are expected to be concluded soon with the launch of the contract work for the reshaping of the stream bed and surrounding areas; the latter should be launched in September by the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and the Environment.
Vítor Fraga also pointed out that, with regard to the regional road network, the Regional Government has invested nearly 2.5 million Euros in the branch road between Nordeste and Povoação, including the first phase of the road section Garcias/Água Retorta, already concluded, and the second phase, whose contract work is in the process of being awarded.
The Regional Secretary also mentioned the work for the improvement of a curve at the beginning of the branch road of the Regional Road in the village of Achada and the intervention to repair a section of the Regional Road in the village of Santana, which will be carried out in September.
"We have made a series of commitments we are fulfilling," the Regional Secretary stressed, emphasising that, with regard to the improvements in the road network, we should also mentioned the connection between Rua das Pedras and Achada Branch Road. This work represents a commitment made by the Government that was fulfilled in due time."
Vítor Fraga also highlighted the fact that "all these works have been carried out by regional companies and some local companies, such as the one to which the contract work was awarded, thus contributing to a new dynamics in the sector and the revitalisation of local economies." Moreover, they have also improved the construction sector, which, after a phase of readjustment, "is currently in a very different situation from the one four years ago."
The Regional Secretary also highlighted the work carried out in this legislative period regarding the revision of legislation in the Public Procurement Code, energy efficiency of buildings, the launch of catalogue of endogenous materials produced and transformed in the Region, and the Regional Public Works Charter.
However, Vítor Fraga stressed that, although the construction sector is experiencing a different dynamics compared to four years ago, this should not be regarded as a finishing line, "but rather as a starting point."
"A starting point to continue working so that we may live better on all of our islands," said the government official.