The General Audit of the Executive Branch (AGPE) has deployed a technical team to conduct a complete survey of the more than 800 properties under the administration of the Social Insurance Institute (IPS). The action, considered historic, aims to verify the legal status, lease contracts, and current rental values of properties spread across Paraguayan territory.
The President of the IPS Board of Directors, Isaías Ricardo Fretes, was emphatic in stating that the management of the institution's assets has always lacked clarity. “I want to know how many properties the IPS has, where they are, how much is paid for each rent, and who rents them. This has always been a secret, but the legitimate owners – who are the policyholders and business owners – need to know,” he declared.
Fretes highlighted a concerning asymmetry between what the IPS should receive from the exploitation of its properties and what actually enters the institution's coffers. As an example, he illustrated that, on a base where revenues equivalent to 10 guaranis should be recorded, the institution barely receives two.
Among the critical points to be audited are vast expanses in the Chaco region and areas of high commercial value. “There are more than 400 thousand hectares of IPS land in the Chaco. Who is renting them? How much is being paid? The same applies to exclusive properties such as those located in the Paraná Country Club. The non-negotiable goal is to make all of this transparent,” he emphasized.
The Auditor General of the Executive Branch, Alberto Cabrera, confirmed the deployment of five specialized professionals for fieldwork within the social security system. The technicians will thoroughly examine the documentation supporting the ownership of assets and the economic conditions of current leases. “We want to determine exactly how many properties are titled, how much they cost the IPS, who is renting them, and under what values,” Cabrera detailed. A cost-benefit assessment will also be carried out to compare the investments required for the maintenance of each property with the net revenue they generate.
The authorities acknowledged the complexity and magnitude of the task, as preliminary records indicate a universe of more than 800 properties under social security administration. The process was classified as delicate but essential for optimizing state resources.