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| The local government team has announced a first battery of urgent economic measures, including, for example, the expansion of Hidrogea's social fund object and cost reduction, such as the garbage rate | The Government of the Cartagena City Council has presented this morning different economic measures with the aim of helping, within the municipal powers, to help companies overcome the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus.These measures, which are being agreed with the affected sectors, are focused on reducing the fixed costs of self-employed workers, SMEs and merchants, while the mandatory closure is prolonged, and on encouraging the reopening of these companies, as well as on reactivating the local economy.The mayor of Cartagena, Ana Belén Castejón, stressed that "we have to prepare to overcome the economic crisis caused by confinement, and for this we are going to launch an orderly recovery project, with the cooperation and collaboration of the different economic areas with whom we are in permanent contact.

Only together can we overcome this crisis.

”Among other actions, this afternoon the Board of Governors approved the expansion of the purpose of Hidrogea's social fund, which until now was limited to vulnerable people and families.

"In this way, the self-employed, small businessmen, and merchants will also be able to benefit from it, without having to pay the water bill," explained the mayor.Another line of work is the exemption from paying garbage fees to businesses forced to close due to the state of alarm.

"Thus, only 14.30 euros will have to be paid in this concept while this situation lasts," Castejón has detailed.In addition, the tax moratorium on the rates of street markets, terraces, unauthorized kiosks, street vendors, stalls and barracks is extended so that their managers do not have to make expenses at a time when they do not receive any type of income.On the other hand, Castejón has emphasized the importance of the reactivation of the local economy when, little by little, normality resumes.According to the mayor, "as soon as the budget comes into force, we are going to mobilize the contingency fund, which exceeds 1,300,000 euros for aid to vulnerable families, the self-employed and SMEs and, as soon as possible, campaigns will be carried out commercial, cultural and festive revitalization ”.Along these lines, a single assistance office for self-employed workers, SMEs and companies affected by the coronavirus will also be created: “This office could be located in the ADLE.

Employers will be able to request information on the aid that the different administrations are implementing, ”the mayor continued.In addition, Ana Belén Castejón has also revealed that "we want to further improve the payment period to suppliers and reduce bureaucratic rates so that Cartagena entrepreneurs have liquidity as soon as possible.

We also want to facilitate special tax divisions for families, citizens and companies that are in an unfavorable economic situation, caused by the declaration of the state of alarm.

"The City Council has agreed with the different business organizations to create a monitoring commission to study more measures to help alleviate the difficult situation that self-employed and SMEs in Cartagena are suffering as a result of the coronavirus.SOCIAL OPERATIONFor her part, the vice mayor, Noelia Arroyo, has reported on the social operation.

Among them the Unique Social Telephone, with which "it has been possible to attend quickly to the basic needs of Cartagena families".“Since March 26, 4,233 requests have been answered on this phone, of which more than 64% (2,712) have been processed.

The rest are rejected requests because they were duplicated or because their claimants did not meet the requirements for the benefit they were requesting, "said Arroyo.75% of all processed petitions have been translated into real help, "which gives an idea of ??the formidable work that our social workers are doing," said Arroyo, "and although benefits in the form of food are not the only ones, the truth is is that more than 70% of the calls were demands for food ”.Yesterday the 1,618 food deliveries were reached since the device was launched and currently deliveries of food and hygiene products are made to 386 families each week.Arroyo explained that this social work is carried out "in complicated conditions and at a time of great pressure".

22% of the calls collected in the operation belonged to people who had never before requested the help of municipal social services, "a figure that allows us to check the social incidence of this health crisis," said the Deputy Mayor, who added that "38% of the people served by this operation are minors and, according to our figures, one in ten people we are serving lives alone".This week a second phase of the operation has begun, with a greater participation of social entities, and in which, in addition to the food bank, the Red Cross and Caritas have been integrated, which provide volunteers, experience and dependencies from which to work to throughout the municipality and that will be more useful as the unconfinement progresses, Arroyo said.The City Council continues to supervise the accommodation of a total of 60 passers-by and people in street situations who are now in Coto Dorda and in the Hospitality of Santa Teresa, with the help of La Huertecica and Cáritas.Likewise, the food service at home is maintained for the beneficiaries of the school check, who are 570 minors; as well as home care, home meals and telecare, to 1,000 elderly people who live alone.Lastly, the Deputy Mayor has thanked the great response from companies, entities and volunteers, all willing to collaborate, such as in the mask collection campaign for the UPCT together with the pharmacies, ”which had to be closed in two weeks per response.

of the people, just as the universities have had to be asked not to send us more volunteers to speak with the elderly who live alone; There are 240 seniors in the program and 156 college students ready to make a call to them.

”"It is very exciting to see the generosity of the people of Cartagena and many times we must remember that it is very important to channel all aid through the social device and the entities that coordinate with us," he concluded, explaining that companies can do your contributions directly to the City Council or through the FCC Bussines, the network of companies of the Futbol Club Cartagena, which is collaborating with this device.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena