The energy company delivered the first school in its “Build to Educate” program, in which it will invest 80 million pesos to rebuild 50 schools affected by the 2017 earthquakes in Oaxaca
Despite the covid-19 pandemic, Iberdrola Mexico delivered the first school of the “Build to Educate” initiative, a program announced last December in which the energy company pledged to invest 80 million pesos over the next five years for the reconstruction of 50 schools affected by the earthquakes that occurred in September 2017.
This first delivery was made at Technical Secondary School No. 113, in La Ventosa, whose construction included a cafeteria, multipurpose field and entrance porch. With these works, 210 students will directly benefit.
“We are really proud to do this bit and we will continue working on this project to meet the goal we set for 2024. Our priority is that our children can return to their schools in dignified conditions and to learn and have a better future” , Álvaro Velázquez, in charge of the asset management area of Iberdrola México.
Work is already underway in two more schools in the Santo Domingo Tehuantepec region, for the direct benefit of another 325 students. The works carried out in these facilities include repair of classrooms, reconstruction of sanitary modules, cisterns, perimeter walls, repair of cracks, placement of lights and furniture, with a total investment of more than 6.4 million pesos.
The month of September 2017 will be marked in the imagination of Mexicans forever. Minutes before midnight on the 7th, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake shook the bowels of the Earth, emerging the epicenter in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, in Chiapas. There were more than 100 deaths, 900 injured and around 2 million affected not only where it originated, but also in other neighboring states, such as Oaxaca.
12 days later, unexpectedly on the anniversary of September 19, a new earthquake violently shook the country, especially in the central and southern areas with an epicenter in Puebla and Morelos and a magnitude of 7.1. More than 3,000 lives were lost in the center of the country, as well as in neighboring states, including once again Oaxaca.
Material damage from both earthquakes amounted to more than 10 million pesos, with significant losses in infrastructure in all affected states.
In Oaxaca, the earthquakes that occurred on September 7 and 19, 2017 damaged more than 4,000 schools, of which only 45% have been rebuilt, according to the Oaxacan Institute of Physical Educational Infrastructure (IOCIFED).
“Construir para Educar” was announced last December by the CEO of Iberdrola México, Enrique Alba, at an event attended by the head of the presidential office, Alfonso Romo; the governor of Oaxaca, Alejandro Murat, and the president of CONCAMIN (Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States), Francisco Cervantes.
“At Iberdrola México, we are convinced that education is essential for the development of the south-southeast. For this reason, the private initiative must help the public sector to ensure that 100% of Oaxacan children return to their classrooms as soon as possible, ”said Alba.
“These types of initiatives, in which the public sector, private initiative and civil society collaborate, are essential to promote economic growth and the well-being of Mexicans,” said Alfonso Romo.
For his part, Governor Alejandro Murat reaffirmed his commitment to the children and education of Oaxaca, after acknowledging that there is still much work to be done to restore the educational infrastructure of the state. “This effort, in conjunction with Iberdrola Mexico, will allow 10,000 students to return to the classroom to continue with a quality education in adequate spaces,” he said.
This project is part of the company’s efforts to support the Oaxaca Pact, promoted by the Government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and CONCAMIN to trigger growth in the south-southeast region of the country.
Source: iberdrolamexico.com, excelsior.com.mx
