The PCP made "decisive contributions" to the State Budget, which will allow "millions of people - including the Algarve - to have their living and working conditions improved in 2018", but this does not prevent the Directorate of the Regional Organization of Algarve (Doral) to consider that «the limitations and insufficiencies in the response to the problems of the Algarve region, namely in terms of infrastructure and public services» of this document, approved this Monday, cannot be evaded.
The absence of some measures that are seen as fundamental for the region in the State Budget, approved with votes in favor of the PS, BE and CDU and votes against the PSD and CDS, does not happen, according to Doral, for lack of effort of the Parliamentary Group of the PCP.
«In the debate on the State Budget, the PCP confronted the Government demanding decisive action in the maintenance and requalification of health centers and extensions, public schools and security forces facilities, the hiring of operational assistants, special education teachers and psychologists for schools in the Algarve, the reinforcement of health professionals in the region's health centers and hospitals, the reinforcement of investment in the acquisition and repair of equipment at the University Hospital Center of the Algarve, the preservation of the Algarve's cultural heritage and the reinforcement of the financing of the Orquestra Clássica do Sul, the reinforcement of investment in the Algarve highway and railway, the improvement of the water supply for agricultural purposes in the Algarve interior, the carrying out of dredging and the requalification of fishing ports, among other issues", listed the algarvian communists.
Still, Doral highlights several PCP victories in the State Budget for next year, namely some resulting from PCP proposals, presented and approved in the specialty debate.
In the area of employment, the PCP says it has contributed to the "end of the 10 percent cut in unemployment benefits and the extension of the extraordinary measure to support the unemployed." In education, he proposed the "extension of the free school manuals up to the 2nd cycle and the reduction in the number of students per class", as well as "the reinforcement of resources for special education and the improvement of the working conditions of the classrooms of pre-school education” and “the mandatory inspection of school canteens”.
«The reduction in the cost of the multi-purpose certificate of disability for people with disabilities, the non-aggravation of the value of tuition fees in higher education for the 3rd consecutive year, the creation of a National Emergency Program for Cultural Heritage, the consolidation of support for gasoline from the artisanal and coastal fishing and the approval of a program for the valorization of low-value fish species at auction and the transfer of costs with the social tariff of natural gas from consumers to wholesale companies" are other proposals of the PCP that are included in the final document .
To these are added «the increase in pensions for the second consecutive year, having as a reference the minimum value of 10 euros, the reduction of the personal income tax for all workers and the restoration of the rights of workers in the Public Administration, namely the unfreezing of progressions in the careers, the replacement of the amount paid for overtime, night work and quality hours», already contemplated in the initial proposal of the State Budget.
«During 2018, the PCP will closely monitor the execution of the State Budget, continuing to draw attention to the Algarve's problems and demand their resolution. In particular, it will continue to intervene towards the abolition of tolls on Via do Infante, through the rapid completion of works along the entire length of the EN 125, through the electrification of the Algarve Railway Line and the construction of the Central Hospital”, concluded Doral do PCP .
The regional structures of the PSD, BE and PS have also already taken public positions on the approval of the State Budget and its implications for the region.
O PSD went public to say that the document "has no budget" for works on the EN125 between Olhão and VRSA. The Left Block also reacted to the approval of the OE, denouncing that the its proposal to create a tourist tax, to replace toll payment on the A22, was rejected by PS, CDS and PCP.
The PS, for its part, defended the document, ensuring that it shows that «Algarve is a priority» for the Government and for the Socialists.
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