A few days ago the rescue group “Cuerpo de Socorro Andino” exposed the complex economic situation that affects them after the suspension of economic support by Senapred.
The team of volunteers, with a national presence and in Ñuble, reported that between 2009 and 2019 they received resources to finance their search and rescue operations. However, after this end of the transfer agreement, since mid-2022 they have taken steps to resume that delivery of money, without success so far.
Read more: “Socorro Andino” demands suspension of resources for rescue operations
Its members reported that, at the national level, during this year they met with different office officials, who were asked for an amount of approximately 250 million pesos per year, whose proposal was submitted for observations, which were corrected. However, despite this, they commented that Senapred’s 2024 budgets were finally sent to the Ministry of Finance, without including “Socorro Andino”.
For the delegation of “Las Trancas” what happened is “bad news”, since they must pay for the free service they provide to the community with their own means.
“As one of the most active Chilean Andean Relief Corps delegations in the country, we still have to pay for our own gasoline and equipment. Our members volunteer their time to save others and we still need to raise additional money for rescue operations and there is still no insurance available in the event our team members are injured in the line of duty,” the statement revealed. head of delegation of the Andean Relief Corps of Las Trancas, Corinne Bentley-Rawson.
Reasons for suspension
Once this claim was known, Senapred responded to La Discusión that it was decided to terminate the agreement signed with “Socorro Andino” during the previous government, because the redemption of resources carried out by the group at the end of 2019 was questioned and because there was a budget adjustment in public services due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Between 2009 and 2019, the Andean Relief Corps (CSA) received resources from the National Emergency Office (Onemi), through the corresponding budget formulations before the Budget Office. At the end of 2019, and in the context of the account review process carried out by the then Onemi to the agreement signed with the CSA, expenses of more than $22 million were rejected and observed, therefore, through official letters No. 65 and No. ° 119, we proceeded to request the return of these amounts, in attention to the good and correct use of public resources, ”they explained.
The agency reported that the volunteer team had to return a sum of money that, according to their claim, was not paid properly, that is, supported by a document proving the cost of more than 22 million pesos, which was finally resolved. by Socorro Andino.
“In this way, during the year 2020 and the first semester of 2021, the Andean Relief Corps had to reimburse Onemi for the aforementioned amounts that had been questioned during the 2019 account review process., the surrender being corrected after the actions deployed from Onemi”, they added.
Although the volunteer organization indicated that financial support was requested this year to be included in the 2024 budget, Senapred reported that it was done after the deadline. However, they indicated that the possibility of resuming financial support will be evaluated.
“It should be noted that the current Senapred Directorate, which took office on March 14 of this year, had not received a request for a meeting from the Andean Relief Corps, until July 6, the date on which that meeting took place. However, indicate that on that date the budget formulation had already been submitted by our service to the Dipres. These processes are made between May and June approximately. Currently, as Senapred, we are technically evaluating the option of resuming the agreement with the CSA, which will be informed in a timely manner,” they detailed.
