President José Antonio Kast dismissed concerns on Monday regarding potential cuts to social benefits following news of a budget adjustment within the Ministry of Social Development. The President made these remarks during the “Presidente Presente” town hall meeting held in Coyhaique, Aysén Region.
The controversy arose from a Treasury decree establishing a $32 billion peso budget cut for the Ministry of Social Development. According to reports from La Tercera, this adjustment includes a $1.85 billion peso reduction to the Newborn Support Program, which provides baby kits in public hospitals.
Responding to concerns from attendees, Kast assured that the measure does not mean the end of the aid. “We are not going to take them away,” the President stated, adding that his administration's goal is to encourage the country's birth rate.
“On the contrary, we need to look at how to increase the birth rate in Chile, because the baby kits were being produced based on a certain birth rate. And [the rate] is falling, yet we continue to produce the same amount of kits. Well, let's use all the kits,” the President argued during his speech.
The President also addressed uncertainty surrounding the Junaeb School Feeding Program (PAE) following the leak of a Budget Office (Dipres) memo proposing the discontinuation of certain programs. Kast assured that no student's meals would be cut, though he admitted the benefit could be subject to improvements.
Connectivity investment for the Aysén Region
During the same event, the President announced a connectivity plan for the Carretera Austral, describing it as “unprecedented.” The announcement was made alongside Minister of Public Works Martín Arrau, Minister of Transport Louis de Grange, and Minister of Economy and Mining Daniel Mas.
The comprehensive plan, which the government will present in detail this Thursday at the Aysén Regional Government office, includes interventions on Route 7, airport infrastructure, and digital connectivity. According to La Tercera, officials highlighted progress at the Balmaceda Aerodrome and repairs to the Presidente Ibáñez Bridge, which had seen reduced accessibility after a main cable snapped during the summer.
Minister Arrau previewed the initiative, noting it includes significant investment in bridges, as well as lake and maritime transport. “Tomorrow we will announce a connectivity plan for Route 7 (Carretera Austral) that is unprecedented in recent decades,” the Secretary of State declared.
Kast acknowledged that the scale of the road infrastructure projects could extend beyond his presidential term. “It might take us four or five years to complete the connectivity works, but we will achieve it,” the President concluded.
