A working group coordinated by the mayor of Monchique will draw up a "program for the economic reorganization of the Serra de Monchique", Prime Minister António Costa has just announced at a press conference in Monchique.
The head of Government announced that this working group, coordinated by Mayor Rui André, will involve "neighboring municipalities", also affected by the fire, as well as public entities, namely the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and ICNF.
The objective is "to ensure that the mountain does not have its economic activity so dependent on fast-growing species", that it can "diversify its economy", as well as "diversify the Algarve's tourism offer", namely by enhancing the "Tourism component of Nature'. "Indigenous production" will also be "valued", in particular "beekeeping", "medronho" and "black pig", added António Costa.
The prime minister, who spoke after a three-hour meeting with mayors from the municipalities hit by the fire (which began a week ago and is not yet fully extinguished), other government officials and heads of national and regional bodies, said he did not know yet what will be the amount of investment to be made in the Serra de Monchique, within the scope of the program that will now be outlined.
"We didn't set a ceiling", "we will evaluate what resources are necessary for its execution", he explained.
At the same press conference, the mayor of Monchique explained that “this fire has to be seen as a window of opportunity” to change the way the mountain is managed and to “correct past mistakes”.
Rui André, who classified the working group created as a "consortium", said that the Government's commitment to create an "exception measure" was left from the meeting held today in Monchique, which would allow "to implement an innovative program that could even be a pilot project' for other regions of the country.
What is intended to be created in the area destroyed by fire, stressed the Monchique mayor, is "a forest that is resilient to fire, but which allows for its multi-use", namely in terms of nature tourism.
For his part, António Costa also revealed that, in total, 17 houses were destroyed, 13 in the parish of Alferce and 4 in Monchique. There are also "eleven people, from five households, who are unable to return to their homes because they have been damaged."
Both for these families and for the rest of the people who have seen their homes or other agricultural buildings affected, there will be solutions, stressed the head of Government.
As for the support to the populations, he announced that «starting next week, Social Security will create four lines of assistance».
On the ground, there will be «two mobile units, in order to provide multiple support», not only in matters directly related to Social Security, such as, for example, «in the renewal of identification documents that have been lost or destroyed» or to clarify and inform on “support in the agricultural area”.
As for the rescue of animals, António Costa said that the Patacão Food Distribution Center (Faro) will provide "hay and feed" for pigs and sheep that need this support.
But also the wind cattle will receive support, since beekeeping is an important activity in the mountains. Sugar will be made available, 'essential to support beekeepers'.
Meanwhile, «eleven technicians from the Algarve Regional Directorate of Agriculture are already on the ground, to survey the damages». The prime minister recalled that people can apply for Measure 662, "which finances the restoration of productive potential", in terms of animals, facilities or agricultural implements.
As for the bureaucracy required in applying for support, and which António Costa said is required by the European Union, "one of the technicians' functions is to support the populations in filling in the forms".
With regard to companies, the head of Government admitted that "it is not, at this moment, identified the number of companies" affected by the fire. but announced that, next week, there will be a meeting at the Regional Coordination and Development Committee, in Faro, "with the affected companies, to direct them to the different existing support lines".
In the particular case of hotel units, António Costa recalled that there is a «line of financing for the treasury, from the Secretary of State for Tourism, to help maintain the activity and jobs».
Like the Sul Informação it was already early today, the prime minister added that "both Turismo de Portugal and RTA will continue the activities of information and clarification" to the tourist companies affected.
With regard to water quality, he guaranteed that according to the data “from all the analyzes carried out, there is currently no water line or source affected”.
After the visit that the prime minister, accompanied by several members of his executive, made today to Monchique, tomorrow it will be the President of the Republic's turn to climb to the highest point in the Algarve.
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