Francisca Garay, the Regional Minister of the Environment for Valparaíso, has ordered an audit of a 2023 agreement between the Ministry of the Environment and the University of Playa Ancha (UPLA) HUB. The project, which had a budget of $850,303,700, was designed to monitor air quality in the municipalities of Quintero and Puchuncaví.
The move comes after several instances of negligence were detected during the plan's execution. Identified issues include delays in report delivery, failure to meet technical requirements, and errors in the installation of monitoring equipment.
According to reports from the Ministry, the installation of devices in educational institutions included errors that obstructed internet connectivity and hindered technical and administrative tasks. The audit aims to clarify the use of public resources and detect any potential mismanagement.
Seeking solutions amid local criticism
“Given the public funds involved, an audit was requested to clarify aspects related to the purchase and acquisition of equipment, as well as the execution of the agreement,” stated Minister Garay. The official specified that the goal is to ensure transparency regarding the actions taken and the omissions made by the previous administration.
Meanwhile, Presidential Delegate Manuel Millones reported that he is in talks with the Rector of the University of Playa Ancha, Carlos González, to find a way forward. Millones noted that the university has provided documentation regarding operational difficulties in the area to develop a proposal that allows the equipment to be used for the benefit of the community.
The situation has caused unrest among local representatives. Puchuncaví City Councilor Juan Elías Pérez criticized the fact that the investment has failed to provide the environmental certainty that the population needs after years of crisis.
“Our community has endured very complex pollution episodes; therefore, when a project intended to provide certainty fails, it only creates more uncertainty and a sense of abandonment,” Pérez declared.
Authorities are still evaluating which entity will conduct the audit. The University of Playa Ancha has not yet issued any public statements regarding the investigation.