2024-08-27 16:54:32
The director of the National Planning Department (DNP), Alexander López Maya, warned about the risk of losing more than $12 billion committed to 2,094 projects financed with resources from the General Royalties System (SGR).
According to the report presented, these projects have suspended contracts or expired execution deadlines.which shows a worrying management of royalties.
López Maya, who took over the leadership of the DNP amid growing concern about transparency in the administration of public resourceswas emphatic in pointing out that “we have to win the battle against corruption.” The director stressed that, upon assuming his position, he found a “withered” royalties system, where irregularities went unnoticed, directly affecting thousands of Colombians who see their resources wasted on unfinished or dysfunctional works.
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Irregularities
The DNP report details that, of the 2,094 projects at risk, 1,497, with a value of more than $9 billion, have expired execution deadlines. In addition, 301 projects, worth more than $1 billion, have all their contracts suspended, while 296 projects, valued at nearly $2 billion, are not only suspended but also overdue.
This situation not only shows flaws in the execution of projects, but also a weakening of the autonomy of territorial entities, which, according to López Maya, have resigned themselves to not directly using their resources because they do not know how to structure and carry out investment projects.
Historic concentration of resources in election years
The DNP director also revealed that between 2017 and 2024, 19,393 royalty-financed projects were approved, for a total value of $68.54 billion.Of these, 55% ($38 billion) were approved between 2021 and 2023, representing the years of greatest concentration of resources in the country’s history.
“The year before the elections and during the election year, in 2021 and 2022, was when the largest royalty resources were committed,” said López Maya, suggesting a possible misuse of these funds in electoral processes. However, the director stressed that, although he cannot prove that these resources were used to influence elections, the magnitude of the commitments made in that period is alarming.
‘White elephants’
The DNP report also sheds light on the existence of projects classified as “white elephants.” Of the 12,106 projects recorded as completed, 277, worth $1 billion, were declared completed even though the physical progress of the works did not exceed 85%. In addition, 58 other projects, valued at $228 billion, were suspended due to technical, legal and administrative irregularities.
Added to these are 2,133 projects, worth $3.5 billion, that do not have a completion certificate. and delivery of the work, which further aggravates the situation of the resources committed to the SGR.
In response to these findings, López Maya announced a series of measures to protect SGR resources. These include the issuance of joint circular 0052-4 of 2024, in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and the Comptroller’s Office, which tightens controls on the use of royalty funds.
In addition, an agreement will be signed with the Attorney General’s Office to train its teams in SGR matters and share information in real time on any irregularities in the execution of projects.
Finally, the DNP director made an urgent call to the control agencies to investigate the 2,094 projects at risk.highlighting that with the $12 billion at risk, critical problems such as access to drinking water in La Guajira and the construction of aqueducts in Quibdó, Buenaventura, Tumaco, and all of Urabá could be resolved.
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