Yilenia Vega: “It is essential to bring the administration closer to the citizens, to collect their concerns and worries, but above all to work together for a more accessible and participatory municipality”
Alejandro Marichal: “This initiative gives prominence to the citizens, allowing the residents to decide on the organization of the festivities in their neighborhoods, leaving behind the arbitrary awarding of contracts”
The Councillor for Celebrations and Events of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Town Hall, Yilenia Vega, and the First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal, have met with the residents' associations and festival committees of the different neighbourhoods of the municipality to inform them of the modifications to the municipal ordinance on subsidies approved during the ordinary plenary session in November, how the procedure should be carried out based on these modifications and the benefits thereof.
During the meeting held between the representatives of 10 associations of the municipality who attended, Marichal and Vega explained that the fundamental objective was to inform the associations directly and guarantee their active involvement in the projects of the municipality, especially in the realization of the festivals of each neighborhood. As Vega pointed out, "these meetings are essential to bring the administration closer to the citizens, to collect their concerns and worries, but above all to work for a greater involvement and participation of the neighborhood groups."
Among the main changes approved in the subsidy ordinance are the simplification of administrative procedures, with the reduction of bureaucratic requirements to facilitate the access of associations and festival committees to municipal aid. In addition, work has been done to make the award criteria clearer, revising the bases so that the processes are more understandable and accessible, which guarantees equal opportunities.
New measures have also been implemented to strengthen transparency in the management of public resources. The mechanisms established include greater oversight and accountability, ensuring the proper use of the subsidies granted.
These changes reflect the desire of the Department of Celebrations and Events to respond to the demands of residents and strengthen the ties between the local administration and civil society. For his part, Alejandro Marichal stressed that “the main objective is that decisions on the development of the festivities return to the people. We are recovering transparency and administrative efficiency by reestablishing the subsidy model based on competitive concurrence. This initiative gives prominence to the citizens, allowing residents to decide on the organisation of the festivities in their neighbourhoods. With this change, we are leaving behind the practice of recent years, where contracts for celebrations were made by handpicking.”
