Claudia Sheinbaum: "The people support us in every negotiation."

The Manzanillo sun shone brightly that Saturday as President Claudia Sheinbaum headed toward the Tepalcates II Bridge to kick off an ambitious infrastructure plan. It wasn't just any visit: the president arrived in Colima with a clear message about the country's direction and the role the Mexican people play in every decision.

"When we negotiate with any president, we know the people support us," he stated firmly, making it clear that his government relies on popular legitimacy to engage in any international dialogue.

Sheinbaum emphasized that social policy remains the cornerstone of her administration. Programs such as the Universal Pension for Older Adults , support for high school students, people with disabilities, agricultural workers, and Youth Building the Future have channeled 850 billion pesos directly to Mexican families , resources that, she asserted, were previously "stolen."

The president defended the premise she inherited from the previous administration: "For the good of all, the poor come first." For her, strengthening the poor is not only fair, but also boosts the national economy.

During the event, Sheinbaum announced the construction and expansion of five bridges in Colima, Manzanillo, Coquimatlán, and Tecomán, with an investment of over 2 billion pesos . She also highlighted the 52-kilometer expansion of the Colima-Manzanillo highway, a key project to improve connectivity in the region.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to port development, announcing that the port of Manzanillo will become "the first port in Latin America" as part of Plan Mexico to reactivate industries such as textiles and footwear and boost exports.

The president emphasized that port development is not limited to Manzanillo. Lázaro Cárdenas (Michoacán) and Salina Cruz (Oaxaca), along with the ports of the Gulf of Mexico, are part of a logistics network designed to strengthen Mexico's position in international trade.

“Mexico is a free, sovereign, and independent country,” he reiterated, emphasizing that decisions regarding infrastructure and economic development are guided by the national interest and not by external pressures.

Sheinbaum also responded to public concerns. A fisherman from the Cuyutlán lagoon asked if the expansion of a bridge would affect fishing activities. She took the microphone without hesitation: "It won't affect anything; we're taking that into account."

This gesture reinforced his message of closeness to the people and a government attentive to local needs.

The total investment planned for Colima and Manzanillo in the coming years amounts to nearly 4 billion pesos , a boost that, according to Sheinbaum, will benefit not only the regional economy but the entire country.

As the machines prepared to begin construction, the echo of his words was clear: with the support of the people, Mexico can negotiate, invest, and grow with dignity and strength.