The devastating fires that devastated the central-southern area of the country are under control, but a long road to reconstruction lies ahead. In that context, it was not only the late former president Sebastián Piñera who—one day before his death—offered the help of those who were part of his government to help in the emergency. Former President Michelle Bachelet also made officials from her administration available to provide support to the Government of President Gabriel Boric. The latter were the first to arrive at La Moneda this Tuesday.
Also summoned to today’s meeting were the former Minister of Economy and the MOP of the two Piñera governments, Juan Andrés Fontaine, and the mayor of Lo Barnechea, Cristóbal Lira. However, both preferred to attend tomorrow’s meeting, which will include all the former collaborators of the previous government.
Of course, despite the predominance of the team close to Bachelet, Bernardita Paúl Ossandón, daughter of deputy Ximena Ossandón and niece of senator Manuel José Ossandón (RN), who was in charge of the reconstruction programs after the fires of 2017.
Together with authorities from the current administration, the Minister of Social Development, Javiera Toro, appointed by President Boric in charge of the reconstruction of the recent fires, received today at the Government Headquarters – both by video call and in person – the following:
- Paulina Saball: PPD activist and Minister of Housing and Urban Planning throughout Bachelet’s second government.
- Julio Ruiz: presidential delegate who assumed reconstruction tasks in the Tarapacá Region, after the earthquake in Norte Grande in 2014.
- Sergio Gailiea: PPD activist, Minister of National Assets under President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Undersecretary of Public Works during Bachelet’s second government.
- Paula Fortes: sociocultural director of the second Bachelet government, social worker specialized in gerontology, collaborative processes and management of social and health services.
- Dante Pancani: Director of Serviu in Bachelet’s first government and presidential delegate for reconstruction in Arica and Parinacota, after the earthquake in Norte Grande in 2014.
- Miguel Vargas: PS activist, mayor of the Atacama Region during Bachelet’s second government and current regional governor.
- Andres Silva: Seremi of Housing of the first Bachelet government and presidential delegate to face the emergency of the fire that affected Valparaíso in April 2014.
In the event, which was scheduled for Tuesday of last week but the death of Sebastián Piñera forced it to be rescheduled, each person told Minister Toro about their experience facing post-catastrophe reconstruction processes.
It is worth mentioning that, this Tuesday, a meeting is also planned with the current senator of Evópoli, Felipe Kast, who was Minister of Planning in the first Piñera government and who met separately with Minister Toro.
Tomorrow, the long-awaited meeting between the former advisors of the late former president Sebastián Piñera and the current authorities of the Executive will take place in La Moneda.
The meeting had been coordinated after a phone call between Gabriel Boric and Sebastián Piñera on Monday of last week, one day before the tragedy in Lago Ranco. In this conversation, Piñera offered Boric the collaboration of his ministers and advisors on emergency issues such as fires and earthquakes.
The former national coordinator of the Reconstruction Program, Pablo Ivelic, the former Undersecretary of Housing, Andrés Iacobelli, the former ministers Rodrigo Pérez and Jaime Bellolio, as well as the architect Iván Poduje, are part of the Piñerista brigade. They would be joined by Rodrigo Pérez Mackenna, former Minister of Housing and Urban Planning during Piñera’s first government, and Guillermo Rolando, former undersecretary of Minvu during his second term.
For the next few days, the minister’s agenda also includes a meeting with the private sector, including unions such as the Chilean Chamber of Construction, the College of Engineers and the College of Architects.