With technical support from Chile, Paraguay is preparing the first tender for transport reform along the Mariscal López corridor, while bus companies say the technical fare has gone nine months without an update and are pressing for funds to keep the service running.
Claudia Centurión
Pytagua coverage mentioning Claudia Centurión.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies will again review a bill that could allow different financial products from the same institution to be counted separately, while IPS investments in Ueno Bank exceeded the legal limit described in the sources.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies completed only eight of the year’s 41 sessions because of a lack of quorum, leaving bills unvoted, and is preparing changes to its rules to enforce pay deductions and penalize absent lawmakers.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies is preparing changes to its internal rules to enforce deductions of G. 300,000 for tardiness and G. 600,000 for unjustified absences, review attendance monitoring and limit flexible justifications after repeated quorum problems.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies approved a World Bank-linked USD 1 million grant for preparatory studies for Itapúa’s logistics infrastructure and transport project. Separately, it is considering a request to question MOPC Minister Claudia Centurión after the Pedrozo crash that killed six people, but the initiative is likely to be rejected by the majority.
The Rutas del Este consortium, formed by Sacyr and Ocho A, has received US$374 million since 2022 for the concession of the PY02 highway in Paraguay under a public-private partnership, with funds coming from tolls and top-ups from the National Treasury, while critical sections of the road remain without definitive solutions.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies is debating a request to summon the Minister of Public Works over the state of highways, prompted by a fatal accident, while expecting to approve a new $1 million credit for her ministry.
The Paraguayan Chamber approved in general a bill to increase corruption penalties to up to 25 years, but postponed the final analysis sine die, amid criticism about the contradiction between official discourse and parliamentary practice in combating this crime.
After the sixth death in the Pedrozo accident, Minister Claudia Centurión ordered the removal of the traffic light at the location within 30 days.
Five people died and seven were injured after a truck with brake failure collided with vehicles at the Pedrozo intersection in Ypacaraí on the PY02 highway, exposing mechanical failures, poor infrastructure, and delays in promised works for the site, while the driver is charged with negligent homicide and the opposition demands accountability from the Public Works Minister.
The Paraguayan government launched the Urban Design Manual, a binding plan with World Bank support to revitalize Asunción's Historic Center by the city's 500th anniversary in 2037, focusing on pedestrian mobility, green infrastructure, and economic stimulus.
Paraguay advances work on the bioceanic corridor and the paving of PY05, while the Legislature releases loans of $75 million for rural connectivity and $286 million for the southern bioceanic corridor after overcoming political impasses.
The Environment Commission of Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill transferring management of Asunción's North, Central, and South waterfront roads from the municipality to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC).
Senator denounces overpricing of up to 81% in MOPC bids, while minister denies irregularities and seeks to calm lawmakers with details on a financing package for works.
The Paraguayan Chamber debates an IDB loan for rural connectivity that may be delayed due to disagreements in resource distribution, while the Senate advances with a Japanese loan for the bioceanic corridor.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies debates a bill to eliminate the fee charged by Opaci on driver's licenses, facing resistance from cartismo, while proponents allege the private entity generated millions with the system and practices political patronage.
The Paraguayan Senate approved in committee a $286 million loan for an integration corridor, while opposition senators accused the Ministry of Public Works of corruption for alleged overpricing in tenders, leading to the summons of Minister Claudia Centurión to provide explanations.
Camera monitoring on Paraguay's Bioceanic Corridor has recorded 23 species, including the threatened giant armadillo, using wildlife crossings built to safely traverse the highway.
The sewer system project in Mariano Roque Alonso, financed with over US$ 160 million, is at a standstill, with the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the municipal government trading accusations over who is responsible for the delay related to the construction land.
Senator Ever Villalba formally denounced to the Senate that the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), led by Claudia Centurión, overcharged by more than US$157 million in 13 tenders, excluding companies with bids close to the reference price in order to award contracts to more expensive consortiums, and requested that the minister provide clarifications.
The Paraguayan government has presented a bill to Congress to secure a $286 million loan from Japan to build the Southwest Corridor, a nearly 200-kilometer road project in the south of the country. The announcement has sparked debate over public debt priorities amid a crisis involving shortages of medicines.
The Paraguayan Minister of Public Works, Claudia Centurión, warned that the country has only 15% sewage coverage, but listed progress on projects such as the construction of seven hospitals and the Bioceanic Corridor bridge.
President Santiago Peña publicly expressed his support for Vice President Pedro Alliana for the 2028 elections during an inspection of the expansion works at the Yacyretá hydroelectric plant. Meanwhile, the president of the PLRA, Alcides Riveros, announced that the party will cut off financial transfers to allies from a third political force in the municipal elections, allocating resources only to liberal candidates.
The physical connection of the international bridge over the Paraguay River, which links Carmelo Peralta in Paraguay to Porto Murtinho in Brazil and is a fundamental part of the Bioceanic Corridor, has been completed, with an official ceremony planned and complementary works to continue until 2027.