2024-10-02 12:26:40
‘Trucks must be delivered as contracted’. Yesterday, during a hot political control debate in the Huila Assembly, the Departmental Government Secretariat established a firm position regarding the acquisition of the six fire tanker trucks. The modifications proposed by the contractor were also rejected by the firefighters.
DIARIO DEL HUILA, CLOSE UP
By: Gustavo Patino
‘The trucks must be delivered as contracted.’ The acquisition of six vehicles worth more than $4.3 billion, carried out by the Government of Huila in 2023, has generated a strong political debate in the department. The vehicles, which should be ready to respond to emergencies in municipalities such as Neiva, Garzón, La Plata, Rivera, Campoalegre and Pitalito, are still in workshops awaiting the installation of the tanks on the chassis, amid growing criticism for technical failures and delays.
This issue was addressed in a political control debate in the Departmental Assembly, in which various actors, such as the deputy Rodrigo Lara, the secretary of the departmental Government Juan Carlos Casallas, the captain of the Pitalito Fire Department Gilberto Rojas Sánchez, the captain of the Pitalito Fire Department Officers Edidson Fernández and deputy Alfadil Ortigoza presented their positions regarding this problem that affects the ability to respond to emergencies in the region.
An acquisition with flaws from the beginning
The contract for the acquisition of the vehicles, awarded by the Government of Huila, was an initiative designed to improve the capacity of the department’s fire departments. The project was presented in 2022 before the National Planning Department and part of the resources were awarded from the General Royalties System. However, what started as a proactive measure quickly turned into a headache.
As the technical details of the contract came to light, it became clear that the type of chassis purchased was not designed for use as firefighting vehicles as required by national standards. The contractor’s proposal, despite the fact that the indications were that they should be system trucks, was to make what the Fire Captain called “a Frankenstein” since he planned to make some tractor trucks so the chassis had to be modified to install the tanks.
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According to Captain Gilberto Rojas Sánchez, commander of the Pitalito volunteer fire department, this is one of the most serious problems surrounding the acquisition. “The chassis they acquired was not intended for this purpose and they had to modify it. This generates a delay and possible future problems in the operation of the vehicles on the ground, especially in emergencies,” explained Rojas.
The municipalities waiting
The municipalities that were supposed to benefit from these vehicles are Neiva, Garzón, La Plata, Rivera, Campoalegre and Pitalito. These towns have suffered serious damage, so the acquisition of vehicles was seen as a crucial measure to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters and respond to emergencies. However, the delay in the delivery of the vehicles has generated concern among residents and local authorities. Critics of the contract pointed out that the non-availability of the tanker trucks generated the complications that the department suffered during August and September, where the fire devastated more than 27 thousand hectares of forest in Palermo, Yaguará, Neiva, Campoalegre, Aipe, among other municipalities. .
Deputy Rodrigo Lara told Diario del Huila that the delayed delivery of vehicles has a direct negative impact on disaster management. “We are talking about vehicles that would have been essential to mitigate the emergencies that we have had in the region, both in the winter and dry seasons. It is not just about poor planning, but about putting the lives of people who depend on an effective response to emergencies at risk,” Lara said.
‘The contract must be fulfilled’
At the center of the debate, deputy Alfadil Ortigoza, who was the summoner of political control along with Lara and Omar Alexis Díaz, highlighted the importance of this type of debate to reveal failures in public management. Ortigoza called for objectivity and transparency, pointing out that the objective of the debate is not to blame the previous departmental government or officials, but to analyze the contract in depth.
«Today the reality of a very controversial contract has been revealed. Here we are not persecuting either the previous governor or the previous Secretary of Government. The priority is to attend to these emergencies that we have had,” said Ortigoza. For the deputy, the debate not only seeks to correct the mistakes of the past, but also to ensure that the vehicles arrive in optimal conditions to fulfill their mission of saving lives and protecting public assets.
Despite the difficulties, Ortigoza was emphatic in pointing out that the contract must be fulfilled as it was signed. «Contract 059 of 2023, for $4,355 million, must be executed correctly. The goods and services acquired are clearly described, so it is expected that the purpose of the contract for which it was conceived will be fulfilled,” he stressed.
The Government’s response
For his part, the current Secretary of Government of Huila, Juan Carlos Casallas, participated in the debate, recognizing the failures that have occurred, but defending the current management, which decided to suspend the contract until the specifications are met according to the normativity. Casallas highlighted that his office is taking the necessary actions so that the vehicles are delivered as soon as possible and comply with the established technical specifications. “We are working to ensure that these vehicles are delivered as soon as possible, in conditions that ensure their correct functioning,” said Casallas.
Edidson Fernández, captain of the Official Firefighters of Huila, was another of those who actively participated in the debate. Fernández was concerned about the modifications that were made to the vehicles. «These vehicles were not designed to be fire trucks. “The fact that they have had to be modified poses a risk that they will not function properly in emergency situations, which is unacceptable,” he said.
A critical situation
Meanwhile, volunteer firefighters, who have been on the front lines during recent emergencies, feel that the delay in the delivery of vehicles has hampered their ability to respond. Gilberto Rojas Sánchez, who in addition to being the commander of the Pitalito firefighters, has seen first-hand the devastating effects of the lack of adequate equipment at critical moments, pointed out that “the best recognition for us, as firefighters, would be that this contract is fulfilled and that we can have the vehicles as soon as possible. People should not have to wait for our help due to failures in the planning or execution of a contract,” said Rojas.
The delay in the delivery of vehicles has been particularly alarming given the number of emergencies the region has faced recently. The forest fires have hit municipalities such as Campoalegre, Neiva and Rivera hard, which were already seriously affected a year ago and continue to face climate risks. «Campoalegre, which is contributing money, has been affected. Rivera has been affected, they have been affected and we are talking about the impact of more than 27,000 hectares,” said Alfadil Ortigoza during the debate. The figure highlights the magnitude of the crisis. And the urgent need to have adequate equipment to deal with this type of emergency.
The contract must be fulfilled
The debate on political control in the Departmental Assembly of Huila not only served to expose the technical problems. And administrative related to the acquisition of fire vehicles. But also to reiterate the importance of accountability in public management. Both Rodrigo Lara and Alfadil Ortigoza. And Gilberto Rojas agreed that the contract must be fulfilled in its entirety and the vehicles must be delivered in optimal conditions. “This is the best tribute we can pay to firefighters, ensuring that they have the necessary tools to fulfill their mission. It is our responsibility to ensure that public resources are used effectively and transparently,” Ortigoza concluded.