The Loulé Council approved an Action Program for the Management of the Social and Economic Crisis (PAGCSE) which will invest around 7 million euros «so that companies and families can overcome, with less impact, the period of crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic'.
This document presents several measures of an economic, social and Civil Protection nature, within the competences covered by the local authorities, which represent by the Municipality a total investment of 6.799.511,08 euros, in direct expenses (estimated at 5.622.453,64 .1.177.057,44 euros) and revenue losses (estimated at XNUMX euros).
According to the municipality, "these lines of action are intended to complement and strengthen the Government's programs and measures."
Over the past few months, and due to the pandemic that has devastated the country and the world, «there has been a significant increase in unemployment in the municipality of Loulé, a drop in income by companies and households and the consequent increase in difficulty access to goods and services'.
Therefore, the Chamber created this program – an instrument that presents a wide range of mitigation measures to reverse the impacts of the pandemic in the municipality.
For its formulation, 25 local and regional entities from various economic and social sectors were heard, including: the University of Algarve, the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of the Algarve, the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Algarve Hotel and Similar Industry Association, the Algarve Region Trade and Services Association, among others.
The document foresees the continuity of measures already implemented, which represent an investment of 4.721.649,14 euros, as well as the creation of new measures to combat the crisis, with a total value of 2.077.861,94 euros.
And what is planned?
At the level of economy and municipal taxation, for example, measures are presented to exempt parking and transport fees, as well as various municipal taxes, and the increase in the municipal transport network, at no cost to the user.
In terms of employment and professional training, the creation of human resources scholarships with the IEFP is planned, the promotion of training actions in areas of high demand within the scope of the pandemic, in the use of technological instruments to support the creation of businesses or in traditional arts and crafts. In culture, measures to support the sector at a technical and financial level are also foreseen.
Regarding the social area, the measures presented in the program aim to ensure that the most vulnerable groups and those most affected by the social and economic crisis are able to satisfy their most pressing needs, in order to preserve their well-being and their quality of life.
"To this end, it is planned to create mechanisms to foster equity in access to food support, create emergency accommodation for people who are homeless, strengthen municipal social support teams and monitor people in situations of geographic isolation through the Geo-Emergency system. In terms of housing, the “Municipal Lease Subsidy” is also noteworthy, which aims to provide a subsidy to support the payment of housing rents available on the market, as well as the exemption from the payment of supported rents, for housing contracts. lease with the municipality», says the municipality.
Health is also included in the document, namely with regard to the promotion of vaccination against seasonal flu among social facilities and the population aged 65 and over, the creation of Dedicated Areas for Respiratory Patients (ADR), the testing of employees from homes, to the production of community masks, to the cleaning of public spaces and spaces for collective use, among others.
In addition to direct financial support measures for schools and the attribution of 750 tablets to the neediest students, the Municipality also undertakes to provide teaching materials to students in confinement, to create a general helpline for the educational community, maintain school psychology services, provide school meals on a takeaway and promote the School Medical Helpline (AME). It is also expected that the free Covid-19 testing will continue to be made available to teachers and school staff.
Finally, the program provides for several actions under the responsibility of municipal civil protection. Since the beginning of the health crisis, this body has assumed and will continue to play a leading role in the management of the emergency situation we are experiencing, based on its competences, domains and areas of action, with regard to planning, prevention, preparation, awareness and information and support and assistance to the population. It will then be up to the municipal civil protection team to survey infrastructure, means and resources, purchase individual protection equipment, manage employees and volunteers, with a view to safeguarding human life.
The municipal officials added that "this program comes as a complement to the fiscal policy measures practiced by the Municipality since 2016, aimed at families and companies in the municipality, as well as the public investment policy that is intended to strengthen and continue".
«Special thought were the measures of an economic nature that intend to complement and reinforce those of national scope. We are facing an innovative and unprecedented program, adaptable and dynamic in line with the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, which allows us to have a concerted, prepared and agile response to guarantee our fellow citizens confidence in the future”, they conclude.
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