The government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, wanted to express once again his closeness to the people affected by the volcano of Cumbre Vieja, in La Palma, stating that the Government of Spain still has today, two years after the eruption, very present the serious social and economic consequences that the emergency has brought for the island.
When the second anniversary of the beginning of the volcanic emergency is celebrated on September 19, 2021, Anselmo Pestana assures that “the Government of Spain continues to work to alleviate the serious consequences of the volcano of La Palma two years after the eruption” and guarantees that it will continue to work to allow the recovery of the island as soon as possible.
“From the beginning, the Government of Spain was clear: we were facing one of the greatest challenges in recent decades in relation to a natural disaster. And no longer only in our country, but throughout Europe,” says the government delegate in the Canary Islands.
“It was not just about sustaining damage to housing, or the temporary cessation of economic activities, but the impact of the eruption on thousands of life projects, on the island’s main sources of income and on a natural heritage of incalculable value. Therefore, we had to act quickly and decisively and, above all, in coordination and collaboration with the other administrations. And the result has been very positive,” he adds.
In these two years, the Government of Spain has mobilized aid and investments amounting to more than 640 million euros, with measures that have benefited more than 33,100 families, companies and workers in the primary sector.
Quick response in the emergency
Since the beginning of the emergency due to the eruption of the volcano, almost 700 grants were paid for total or partial loss of housing, amounting to 35.62 million euros, 99% of the estimated total, and the general regulations were also modified so that usufructuary people, essentially widows, could access this aid.
Likewise, the State agreed two grants totaling 17 million euros to collaborate in the delivery of 108 homes and the financing of acquisition of belongings for 1,030 families carried out by the Government of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
For its part, the Insurance Compensation Consortium quickly began to pay the corresponding compensation for the loss of real estate, which today amounts to 236.3 million euros in total, after having processed about 10,600 applications.
The central and regional governments have also agreed a special housing plan for Puerto Naos and La Bombilla, with 6 million euros contributed by each administration, which allows to respond to the needs of neighbors who still cannot access these neighborhoods due to the presence of toxic gases.
Reductions of 160 million euros in the Personal Income Tax (IRPF) were applied to the taxpayers of La Palma and two employment plans financed by the State with 93 million euros in total were approved, which have allowed the hiring of more than 2,200 workers, the support of self-employed workers and SMEs, as well as the direct payment of 1,100 euros to the people affected by an ERTE
In addition, not only the ERTES (which has benefited 1,879 workers, for a paid amount of 10.8 million euros), but also the cessation of activity benefit for self-employed workers (who have received 1,186 self-employed workers, for an amount of 7.6 million euros) have been extended until 31 December, and 28.2 million euros have also been paid in aid to the primary sector.
To deal with the reconstruction of municipal infrastructures damaged by the volcanic eruption, the Government of Spain has also agreed to the financing of 50 percent of the costs, which so far represents an investment of 38.5 million euros state, after the signing of the corresponding agreements with the Island Council and the municipalities of Tazacorte, El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane. Since May 25, the road communication between Puerto Naos and Tazacorte has been operational.
A work that continues for reconstruction
“Once the first phase of emergency and compensation for the people affected has been completed, the government is currently also working to rebuild the island, to make La Palma an island of future, modern, and ambitious. An island that makes us feel even more proud to be palm trees and palm trees and that places us as a world reference in sustainability and urbanism,” says Anselmo Pestana.
The Government of Spain has agreed a special plan for tourism recovery co-financed with the Government of the Canary Islands and measures to support science, such as the 3 million euros for innovative projects to alleviate the presence of toxic gases in Puerto Naos and La Bombilla, or the 2.5 million euros in aid for scientific research entities.
It has also approved the granting of state subsidies worth more than 40 million euros for the defense of the natural heritage and biodiversity of the island, in enclaves such as the National Park of the Caldera de Taburiente, as well as transferring 10 million euros to the Government of the Canary Islands for the diversification of production and support to the business fabric.
“We said it at the beginning of the emergency, we repeated it when the eruption ended and we continue to reiterate now: we will go hand in hand with the island as long as necessary and with the resources that are needed. La Palma has a future, and it is a sustainable future environmentally, urbanistically, economically and socially,” says the government delegate in the Canary Islands.
“Now, fully immersed in the reconstruction phase, we continue to work side by side with the other Executives, always under the same premise: that each and every one of the inhabitants of our beautiful island can recover their illusions and their life projects,” he adds.