The Regional Director for Public Organisation and Administration highlighted the importance of "involving citizens" in the "improvement" of Democracy and Autonomy with a view to the harmonious development comprising all parts of the territory.
 
Vítor Santos spoke at the opening session of the 5th Regional Forum of the Network of Participating Municipalities. On the occasion, she stressed the use of tools, such as participatory budgets, which promote citizens' involvement in "public life" and award priority status to investments on their islands.
 
Emphasising the "pioneering" role of local authorities in the use of participatory budgets, the Regional Director defended that these tools or initiatives should always aim to "improve the service rendered to citizens."
 
Vítor Santos also considered that, considering the reality of the archipelago, this is an increased challenge for the Azores.
 
"We are nine islands," the Regional Director said, noting that that the Region has invested in "strategic partnerships between local and regional powers, so that no portion of the territory is left behind," as well as in measures to promote citizenship.
 
The Regional Government promoted the first Participatory Budget of the Azores in 2018. In view of the significant participation of citizens and the quality of the proposals presented, it has decided to widen eligible areas and increase this year's budget to one million Euros in order to implement the investment ideas chosen by Azorean citizens on each of the nine islands.