Mayor: Simas is not bankrupt

Mayor Román Alberto Cepeda said that the measure to inject resources through two loans to the Torreón Water Commission "is a matter of time, not finance," referring to the urgency with which the agency's specific needs must be addressed to address the effects of a water crisis.

He asserted that neither the utility nor the Municipality of Torreón are "bankrupt," and emphasized that no extraordinary debts will be left behind when his second term ends in 2027. "Never before has an administration been as healthy as this one, never before has Simas invested so much."

After the approval of two 60 million peso loans to the Torreón Water Supply System, the mayor stated that extraordinary solutions are being taken in response to extraordinary problems, alluding to a recurring drought that has caused water levels to drop in the more than 30 wells drilled during the previous administration, as well as in other wells that are part of the supply system.

This makes it necessary for Simas to immediately secure resources for new well drilling , of which seven more are planned under the current administration; line interconnections for better distribution; and equipment maintenance.

He said that long-term solutions are even being adopted, which is why investments will also be made to replace severely damaged pipelines , since Torreón has 2,500 kilometers of buried lines that historically have not received the necessary attention, so half of the water extracted from wells is lost in leaks.

"It's a commitment that goes beyond administration. With or without credit, there's much to do, and the historical problems would have been addressed anyway, because this requires a responsible and committed response," he said.

Román Alberto Cepeda emphasized that the fact that two loans are being used for the Torreón Water System should not be misinterpreted, and insisted that the measure is strictly a matter of time, as the operating system should not be allowed to fall into a crisis and jeopardize the provision of such an essential service to citizens as water.

During yesterday's City Council meeting, a majority vote approved the request by Julio Fisher Almaraz, technical secretary of the Simas Torreón Council, to enter into a mutual contract with interest for the amount of 60 million pesos with the City Council, payable no later than October 2027. The request also included a loan from a financial institution not exceeding six percent of the utility's annual budget.

The opinion previously issued by the Finance, Assets, and Public Accounts, and Public Services Committees was approved in the same vein, by a majority vote, with the rejection of PT member Luis Ortiz Zorrilla.

Following City Council approval, Simas Torreón's general manager, Roberto Escalante, is authorized to apply for a 60 million peso line of credit from banking institutions or Multiple Purpose Financial Companies (Sofome).

At least three proposals will be evaluated, and the most convenient one will be selected based on the interest rate. The goal is to cover the loan within 12 months.

In this regard, City Councilman Luis Jorge Cuerda asserted that it would not be necessary to submit the loan contract to a public tender. Compliance with the agreement must be supervised, monitored, and enforced, requesting the support of the City Council Secretariat, its sub-secretariats, the Comptroller's Office, the Treasury, the Ministry of Social Development (Simas), and the legal department of the municipal corporation.