The government of President Santiago Peña allocated more than $22 million, approximately 134.4 billion guaranis, to advertising and events over the last three years through the Itaipú Binacional and its Itaipú Technological Park Foundation (PTI-PY). The funds were distributed across 53 public tenders covering everything from hiring digital influencers and television ads to purchasing promotional items like planners and insulated bottles.
The company Fomento SA received approximately 70% of the total, equivalent to $13.6 million, primarily for equipment rental and event logistics. Other contractors included DM Group EAS, for graphic materials and gifts; Grupo Owen SA, for artistic performances; Coeficiente SRL, for campaigns in traditional media and social networks; and the production company Hechos Pelota.
The Superintendent of Communication for Itaipú, José Luis Rodríguez Tornaco, defended the expenditures. He argued that the amounts correspond to a three-year period and are linked to large-scale projects, such as the construction of 1,000 km of rigid pavement and the hosting of international events, including a UNESCO conference and support for a meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Rodríguez Tornaco stated that 45 of the 53 processes were public tenders, ensuring transparency, and that the binational entity's presence at high-visibility events is strategic for the country.
In parallel, the state-owned company Petróleos Paraguayos (Petropar), chaired by William Wilka, plans to allocate up to G. 3 billion for a tender for promotional items for its service stations. The Director of Communications, Norma Caballero, justified the acquisition by stating that the brand "is growing not only in its own stations but also in the minds of all Paraguayans."
The list of items includes bags, pens, uniforms, parasols, stainless steel bottles coated in ecological leather, and recognition plaques. The sum of the reference unit prices for the 33 items is G. 846,928. Two companies, Antonio Ojeda Burgos and Urban Lights S.A., submitted bids that exceed this value by 14% and 30%, respectively, and are awaiting evaluation.
In Congress, Senator Esperanza Martínez and other opposition lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to redirect the resources allocated for government communication and advertising via Itaipú to the Public Health sector.