The National Trade Union Council asked President Gustavo Petro «to continue working together within the framework of the Constitution and the law, with the aim of solving the challenges in terms of coverage and quality» of public services throughout the country and thus continue consolidating the great achievements that have been built in terms of home public services”.
Similarly, the union expressed its concern regarding the decisions announced by the president to assume regulatory functions which are currently at the head of the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (Creg) and the Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation Regulation Commission (CRA).
In addition, it will strengthen an invitation to strengthen the system for the provision of residential public services «without breaking the current institutional framework, which would put the sustainability of the provision of services and the competitiveness of the country at risk.»
The unions of the country emphasize that «the current system of home public services It is the result of a modernization that began in the nineties, and responds to the standards and principles contained in the Constitution of 1991”.
Since then, they say, these services have been provided by the State and by individuals, who have coexisted harmoniously with a regulation that has responded to the social purposes of the State.
According to official figures, during the last three decades coverage has been expanded in the electricity service from 85 to 97 percent; access to drinking water has gone from 76 to 93 percent; in sewerage, coverage has been increased from 61 to 90 percent and finally, for the natural gas service, coverage went from 17 to 67 percent.
«With this, it has provided a solution to the unsatisfied basic needs of millions of Colombians, reducing inequality gaps and improving the quality of life of millions of households,» said the Trade Council.
Likewise, he assured that the challenges that still exist in terms of coverage and quality can be addressed collectively, Consensus within the current institutionality, guaranteeing the criteria of economic efficiencyneutrality, solidarity, redistribution, financial sufficiency, simplicity and transparency contained in the law.
Otherwise, «it will inevitably mean putting the provision and quality of public services at risk, which will have an impact on both the quality of life of Colombians and the country’s competitiveness.»
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