“We are here before all of you to present our Action Plan for the next legislature and sign a commitment of honor, because we are from the Algarve, we are not here passing through, this is our land, we live here and we only promise what we know that we can achieve”, said Jamila Madeira, head of the PS list for the Legislative Elections on March 10, in a session at the TEMPO café-concert, in Portimão, which took place yesterday.
The initiative, which was attended by several mayors, including the regional representative of the PS candidacy, Isilda Gomes, served to present the Socialists' Action Plan, based on seven priorities.
In health, in addition to the Central Hospital, which the PS guarantees “is ready to be put out for tender”, the socialists stated that they are committed, “until the end of 2026, to the construction of new health centers in Albufeira, Faro, Lagos, Loulé, Monchique, Olhão, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António and the redevelopment of the current buildings in Alcoutim, Aljezur, Lagos, Faro, Loulé, Olhão, Portimão, São Brás de Alportel, Silves, Tavira and Vila Real de António, for a total of 47 million euros, which are fully guaranteed in the Recovery and Resilience Program».
The second area is «Guaranteeing Water», with the PS candidates defining as their objective the «construction of the Desalination Plant, an investment of 90 million euros that is in competition, and the connection of the Algarve to Alqueva, through the extension of the capture of water in Pomarão to the large Alqueva lake, and, in Barlavento, connecting the Bravura, Santa Clara and Alqueva dams».
The PS recalled that «the Government, local authorities, farmers' associations and economic agents agreed on a water efficiency plan for the Algarve», with an investment of «237 million euros to guarantee quality and quantity of water for the region ».
Regarding mobility, the PS candidates highlighted that «electrification works on the railway line are underway», ensuring that, «after the 60% reduction in tolls between 2015 and 2024, one of the first measures of Pedro's Government Nuno Santos will be the immediate elimination of tolls on Via do Infante».
The “construction of a large public housing stock accessible to the middle class, young people and workers” was another of the commitments established in the Action Plan.
The socialists stated that «many works are underway» and that «some municipalities have already delivered houses to previously registered families», adding that «the investment plan of the Government and local authorities in the Algarve is around 400 million euros for the construction of housing accessible".
The candidates also argued that «reducing dependence on tourism and diversifying the Algarve's economic base is the key to a more sustainable economy and the creation of quality, better-paid jobs».
The socialists pointed to the examples of the Technological Pole of Faro, Clinical Simulation Center, Algarve Biomedical Center, in Loulé, or CELERATOR Technological Park, in Portimão, to show what has been accomplished in recent years in research and innovation.
They also spoke of «300 million euros of community funds activated for the region, to support companies and continue diversifying the economy in areas such as agriculture and forestry, the sea and the naval industry».
«An Algarve of environmental excellence» was another of the commitments made by the PS candidates. They gave the example of the work developed for the future classification of Lagoa dos Salgados as a natural reserve (a process that, however, has been pending for months for decision by the Ministry of the Environment), as well as the local reserves of Paul de Lagos, on the Ribeira do Trafal and Foz do Almargem (both in Loulé), the preservation of Alagoas Brancas, in Lagoa, the seahorse sanctuary in Ria Formosa and the Pedra do Valado Marine Reserve.
They also highlighted the case of the old Tavira Agricultural Station transformed into an Interpretive Center for the Mediterranean Diet, preserving collections of traditional varieties of fruit trees.
Finally, the Socialist Party candidates assumed that “the regionalization process must advance in this legislature”.
The PS says that, «once the process of transferring powers to the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions and municipalities, and from these to parishes, is consolidated, it is important to close the constitutional cycle of decentralization and create administrative regions».
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