The Government of Dina Boluarte, through the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation (MVCS), made official the creation of the Multisector Commission that will monitor the implementation of proposals for the strengthening and modernization of the Drinking Water Service company and Lima Sewer (Sedapal)—which supplies the capital and Callao—.
Through RM No. 102-2024-VIVIENDA, it was detailed that the working group will be chaired by Minister Hania Pérez de Cuéllar, and will be composed of the Vice Minister of Construction and Sanitation, the director of Sedapal, of the Safe Water Program for Lima and Callao (PALSC), among other sectoral actors of the MVCS.
According to the portfolio, the structural problem of Sedapal – the largest Sanitation Service Provider Entity (EPS) in Peru – will be addressed to provide better service to citizens, and, to this end, nine axes will be addressed: governance; organization and human resources; long-term planning; investment execution capacity; development of priority investments; water resources management; efficiency in operational and commercial activities; financial management and tariff regulation.
The Multisector Commission has free rein to seek the opinion and contributions of sector specialists, whether public or private, local or foreign.
Privatization of Sedapal in sight?
Luisa Eyzaguirre, general secretary of the Single Union of Workers of the Lima Drinking Water and Sewage Service Company – SUTESAL, comments that in the report presented by the MVCS on Sedapal, they open the way for the entry of private companies for the supply of drinking water.
“In the report, the recommendations are to change ownership of the company and segment the company into three zones, and delivering all activities through Public-Private Partnerships; and apart from that, the DL (No. 1620) authorizes this to be for 25 years”, scored La República.
The Ombudsman’s Office He asked the Ministry of Housing to specify the scope of the legislative decree in question – published in December 2023 – since “private investment in water sources would be empowered.”
These provisions could have a negative impact on people’s right to universal access to drinking water, and they allege that they would be going against the Political Constitution.
Minister Hania Pérez de Cuéllar has minimized the protests of Sedapal workers, and suggests that it responds to ideological interests, since “Sedapal is not going to be privatized”, but the documents mentioned by those who question the MVCS in this note go for another reason. branch.
Source: Larepublica
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
