The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, has held a working meeting at the headquarters of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), in Madrid, to strengthen coordination between administrations and scientific institutions in relation to the identification in some areas of radon gas concentrations in La Palma after the Tajogaite eruption. The main conclusion, derived from the scientific analysis of the radon concentration measures carried out in La Palma by the University of La Laguna (ULL), is that the values recorded are not worrying, so he wanted to send a message of tranquility to the citizens.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, participated on Thursday in the working meeting led by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, together with representatives of the Government of the Canary Islands and the ministries of Finance and Agriculture, as well as the agricultural organizations of the island, to analyze the outstanding needs of the primary sector after the volcanic eruption. During the meeting, the shared commitment of all the administrations to continue advancing in a solution that will allow the recovery of one of the sectors most affected by the disaster to be completed.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, accompanied on Tuesday the Secretary of State for Youth and Children, Rubén Pérez Correa, in a day of work with representatives of youth entities and social organizations of the island to analyze the main challenges facing the young population. The meeting was attended by representatives of Mojo de Caña, an entity of reference in the field of insular youth, as well as Caritas and the Red Cross, organizations that played a fundamental role during the emergency caused by the volcanic eruption and that continue to carry out important work in support of the people and families affected. The Island Director of the AGE in La Palma, Carlos García, and the Councilor for Sports, Youth, Citizen Participation and Information of the Island Council, Yurğan Hernandez, were also present.

The Council of Ministers today approved the Royal Decree-Law that finances the power reserve necessary to avoid blackouts on the island. The measure is contextualized by the ‘Comprehensive Plan of Response to the Crisis in the Middle East’, which modifies Law 17/2013, of 29 October, for the guarantee of supply and increase of competition in insular and extra-insular electrical systems. The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, has welcomed this key approval to strengthen the security of electricity supply while developing geothermal energy, renewable and constant energy from heat housed mainly in volcanic territories.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, has held a working meeting with representatives of the Palm Association of Farmers and Ranchers (ASPA) with the aim of analyzing the current situation of the agrarian recovery process in the areas affected by the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano and studying the necessary actions to complete the reconstruction of the primary sector.

The project of recovery and protection of the maritime front of Punta del Pozo, in Puerto Naos, has today been released to public information, taking a decisive step for the execution of a long-demanded action and that will have an investment of 657,000 euros, financed by the Government of Spain through the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The action is part of the coordination actions for the recovery of La Palma developed by the Special Commissioner for Reconstruction after the volcanic eruption and has been promoted in collaboration with the different departments of the Ministry, including the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, gave a presentation entitled ‘Advances and expectations in the diversification of the productive fabric of La Palma’, in the context of the days organized for the 250th anniversary of the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of La Palma (RSEAPLP). The State High Office presented a strategic vision on the economic transformation of La Palma after the 2021 volcanic eruption, highlighting the advances recorded in employment, business activity and economic recovery. Among the most relevant data was the reduction of unemployment below 10% for the first time in more than two decades, as well as the improvement of business confidence. The Commissioner defended the need to consolidate these results through a diversification of the productive fabric that complements the traditional weight of agriculture and tourism, promoting new activities linked to innovation, technology and the knowledge economy.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, held a working meeting with the director of DISA Renewables, Joaquín Gurriarán, to address the evolution of geothermal projects on the island and analyze the next steps necessary to consolidate one of the main bets of the future for the energy and economic development of La Palma.

La Palma is positioned as a reference in the reflection on the role of heritage and cultural rights in contexts of emergency and reconstruction with the celebration of the conference ‘Territory Experiences V’, from 15 to 19 June at the Casa del Conde, in Los Llanos de Aridane. The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, has participated in the inauguration of this national meeting. Promoted by the Ministry of Culture, it is a laboratory of cultural and social experimentation and innovation under the motto “The role of culture and the exercise of cultural rights in post-disaster contexts”.

The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of La Palma, Héctor Izquierdo, has attended the celebration of the Holy Mass, presided over by His Holiness the Pope, Leo XIV, on the occasion of his visit to Spain, on its scale made in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It was the last event in the Canary Islands, with which it ends its official week of travel to Spain, after previously visiting Madrid, Barcelona and Gran Canaria. It is a historical visit since it is the first time that a Pope travels to the Canary Islands. The drama of immigration, which has especially shaken the island territory, has been the protagonist of the programmed acts and also of the words that the pontiff has spoken during the Eucharist officiated in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.