A hard year for housing in La Palma, Pinar del Río province

The situation of the housing fund in our country is quite complicated; much more to our west, due to the passage of numerous meteorological events through Pinar del Río.

However, after the last presidential visit of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez to the territory, the optics around real estate development took another nuance. The goal is that all damage to housing in our area should be resolved in the coming years without delay.

However, despite the fact that the government will exist so that those affected by the passage of the different hurricanes receive their homes, there is still a long way between the enthusiasm and the desire of the state in the face of the delay in the works; This lag is largely due to the lack of some resources, the scarce or non-existent incorporation of families into the construction process, among other reasons.

La Palma is one of those territories where the will exists and work is done, but even so, neither the medium-term goals nor the results expected by the population are achieved.

COLD NUMBERS

In the territory, for this year, 173 constructive actions are intended to be carried out in a general way in the proposed plan. Of these, 74 correspond to constructions through state companies, while the greatest weight falls on 48 houses due to their own efforts and another 50 that respond to subsidies.

Although it is true that the planned indicators were met in the month of January with 12 homes delivered, the reality for February and March was quite different, as delays began in the works due to causes “outside” the municipal will. Causes that respond today, according to specialists, to the lack of resources in the field of subsidies; “The latter program that has not been prioritized by the assurances and resources of the Mincin,” according to the words of Marilyn Hernández Rojas, vice mayor to attend to the construction system in the place.

Of course, these delays are relegated and attached to the current month’s plan, which from a certain point of view could compromise what is planned in the long term if viewed from a general perspective.

And it is no less true that from the Government of the territory actions are planned and works are controlled, but the reality is that the housing situation here is very complex.

To give you an idea, in 2022 La Palma left a negative balance of 496 pending construction actions, which respond to total landslides in damage from Hurricane Ian; but as if that were not enough, before the aforementioned hurricane there were another 455 homes to be finished.

“INSUFFICIENT IS THE WORK THAT IS DONE. WE KNOW”

According to Hernández Rojas, they work together with Flora and Fauna and with a hybrid sawmill project, in order to guarantee the volumes of wood required. In such a way that the wood obtained responds to the totality of constructive actions and extra plans of the territory.

“We are not giving up on the plan, but we know that it is going to be a very hard year and a lot of effort, as we exponentially increase our construction capacities to try to reach as many people as possible and be able to provide them with decent and comfortable housing.

“In line with national policies and guided in turn by the Provincial Housing Directorate, we have a period of five years to cover and conclude all houses damaged due to atmospheric phenomena,” he said.

In this sense, he added, requests and people who do not have resources to build their homes by their own effort are studied on a monthly basis, and direct and encourage these houses for the state plan.

“Something important is that we have to try to link all the actors and construction companies and other organizations that support these tasks in creating capacities to solve and conclude the pending damages as soon as possible.

“On the other hand, it is impossible for us to build all the houses only with the help of companies and organizations, in this the family and neighbors must play a leading role to advance their homes by means of their own efforts, a reality that is not encouraging at all. today.

To date, according to the records of the deputy mayor herself, La Palma has received around 52 percent of the materials necessary to resolve the damage caused by Ian, and at the moment it is at 46 percent of those resolved for this cause.

“We can record 14 total collapses as solved; four partials; 125 total ceiling; 872 roof partials and 687 minor actions, these with a high percentage of damage due to light roofs; In this last scenario of slightly damaged homes, we are at 88 percent of solution”.

Despite the fact that a large part of the resources that have come to the municipality have been delivered to the population, there are around 65 people waiting for the aluminum supports and other lines to roof their homes.

LOCAL PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS?

Hernández Rojas also argued that it should be recognized that in La Palma the local industry of construction materials, more than a pending issue and a real weakness, is in his words “something that has not materialized”.

It is true that there are around six production-ready block machines, but they are of no use, since the arid theme is a line that conspires and sinks plans, ideas and dreams.

In addition, to the lack of these aggregates is added the zero availability of another vital line such as cement for the production of any constructive element.

Something to mention in this aspect of local production is that the authorities have been working to recover a tile for making bricks for months, but its opening and start-up is still delayed.

The same is true of the rescue of the Piedra Blanca sand pit, which has also been months behind in its output and operation.

“In another order, we make the arrangements to start producing plastic elements in the second half of the year thanks to the collaboration of two self-employed workers.

“We have many things in the process of completion and others already ready, but until now it has not been possible to start the exploitation and the productive chain among all of them for reasons beyond our control,” said the vice mayor.

Currently on La Palma there are 482 total collapses, 310 partial collapses, 584 total roof collapses and 1,376 partial roof collapses; while in the case of damage of a lesser magnitude, there are close to 97. Figures that, although they are not alarming at the province level, are alarming for the territory itself due to the internal problems it suffers.

The truth is that the palmeros will have to settle down on the ground and get the extra if it is about fulfilling plans and calming hopes. The reality is very complex today for a sector that travels with roughness and setbacks, and that should be analyzed and solved as soon as possible by the competent authorities.