National Infrastructure Authority: How should it work?

Due to rains and landslides in the north of the country, the Government has approved a project to create a National Infrastructure Administration (ANI), which will replace National Reconstruction Administration with Changes (ARCC) in the development of the works of the national infrastructure plan.

But how will it work? Transport Minister Paola Lazarte mentioned that this new entity should be depoliticized and independent, despite being led by the Council of Ministers.

“The Cabinet of Ministers does not intend to become politicized, because we have seen firsthand the accumulation of frustration among the population due to the fact that it does not work on time (…) The fact that he is the chairman of the Council of Ministers gives him a level above other ministries and be independent (…) Let’s not politicize games. We have to have a technical definition of things,” he told RPP.

President of the Peruvian Construction Chamber (Capeco) Jorge Zapata agrees with the Ministry of Transport, but believes that the Board of Directors of the organization should not be responsible for ministers, since this also implies politicization.

Zapata warns that with the constant change of ministers, this body could end up being the same as the organization he replaces, but what’s the problem with the Reconstruction Authority with changes?

“The mayors and governors of the regions, seeing that games Prevention had to go very slowly, because it was necessary to prepare all the technical passports, because they were not there, they began to demand “make a school”, “make a hospital”, so they did this type of work and there was a way to show the result, but they stopped preventive jobs on the sidelines because they were pressured by politicians,” he said.

According to the executive branch, the new organization will be responsible for the implementation of about 180 landmark works with an investment of more than 200 million soles in addition to disaster prevention projects.

Lecturer and specialist Public administration Carla Gavigno of the University of the Pacific explains the risks associated with this new power.

“One of the first risks is not being clear about what is being thought about, designing this facility and repeating tasks that are already assigned to other institutions, as happened with the Office of Reconstruction with changes. It is the lack of clarity on how to protect meritocracy. These are key aspects that cannot be neglected,” he said.

Gavigno elaborates that there should be a territorial view of needs across the country, beyond a simple list of projects to be inherited from ARCC or the infrastructure plan itself.

“The aim should be to provide a perspective that allows adequate planning and prioritization of major infrastructure projects and public investment (…) Its aim should not be to respond to the situation of political conjuncture, but rather a comprehensive, technical, structured look at what the country needs to close huge gaps in infrastructure,” he added.

The establishment of this National Infrastructure Authority is still under development as it is to be discussed and approved in the plenary session of Congress. If approved, the ARCC takeover process must be completed within 180 days of the law’s publication.

It is currently known that in order to close the gap in infrastructurewhile there are over 1,800 paralyzed jobs across the country.