Isabel Rodríguez highlights in Ribeira de Piquín the need for innovative projects such as Montes and Eastern Valleys to address rural depopulation

The subdelegate stressed the urgency of responding to a common responsibility such as the demographic challenge, “contributing to the territorial rebalance and guaranteeing equal opportunities.” Likewise, she stressed that this type of proposals must be accompanied by the development of quality public services, ensure the functionality of the territory with infrastructures for connectivity and facilitate the generation of business, cultural and social projects. Isabel Rodríguez congratulated the FEGAMP and the GDR for carrying out this project intended for the future of the province, detecting opportunities that demonstrate knowledge of the needs of the territory. “That is why it is time to join together, to work more and faster, to take advantage of the resources we have”

Ribeira de Piquín, April 13, 2023.- The Deputy Delegate of the Government in Lugo, Isabel Rodríguez, highlighted today in Ribeira de Piquín the need to develop social innovation projects in the province to face the depopulation of the rural environment. “From the administrations it is urgent to work to respond to a common responsibility such as the demographic challenge, so we must contribute to the territorial rebalance and guarantee equal opportunities so that people living in rural areas continue to live from it, while attracting and settling new population in our villages,” said the deputy delegate.

Isabel Rodríguez, together with other authorities, participated this Thursday in the presentation of the initiative "Montes y Valles Orientales Intelligent Rural Territory" of the FEGAMP and the GDR that has as its main objective the transformation of the villages and villas of this area of the province into spaces for life, employment and autonomy of the region.

In her speech, the subdelegate stressed that the demographic challenge “is a democratic challenge that we have to meet” and stressed that this type of proposals must be accompanied by the development of quality essential public services, ensure the functionality of the territory with infrastructures for connectivity, both physical and digital, and facilitate the generation of business, cultural and social projects in the municipalities.

“Because the interior Lugo is neither empty nor alone. The strength, perseverance and creativity of people, of the associative fabric of peoples, of cooperatives, of producers and social entrepreneurs, of civil society organizations and of local entities, which have been fighting socio-economic decline for a long time, require in order to develop it a coverage of rights under conditions of equality,” he added.

In this regard, Isabel Rodríguez congratulated the FEGAMP and the GDR Montes y Valles Orientales for carrying out this type of projects and idea designed for the future of the peoples, detecting initiatives and opportunities that demonstrate the knowledge of the needs of the territory and the challenges it faces, as it reflects that of the 13 municipalities that make up this space, with more than 2,500 square kilometers of territory, it has only 22,000 inhabitants.

Finally, the subdelegate warned that reversing decades of urban concentration and rural abandonment is a long and complex process that requires urgent transformation impacts and initiatives that keep quiet over time. “That’s why it’s time to join together, to work more and faster, to take advantage of the resources we have,” he said.

Smart Rural Territory

The plan “Montes y Valles Orientales Intelligent Rural Territory” comprises three main lines of action consisting of the creation of a Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Social Participation, a pilot project of video socio-health assistance aimed at the elderly and the promotion of rental housing to fix population. The GDR covers the municipalities of Pontenova, Meira, Ribeira de Piquín, Pol, A Fonsagrada, Negueira de Muñiz, Vacía, Navia de Suarna, Baraja, Becerreá, Cervantes, Láncara and Pedrafita do Cebreiro.