Revita, a support fund for populations affected by the fires of June 2017, will be allocated exclusively to the municipalities affected by these fires, announced this Monday the Minister of Youth and Modernization, Margarida Balseiro Lopes.
“What we can say today is that, in the State Budget for 2025, we will eliminate this fund from the treasury unit, allowing the fund to be allocated exclusively to this territory, to these populations, and this decision arises from the need for really invest in projects in this territory,” Margarida Balseiro Lopes told reporters in Pedrógão Grande.
The minister spoke after a working meeting in which the Minister of Internal Administration, several secretaries of State, the presidents of the Chambers of Pedrógão Grande, Castanheira de Pera and Figueiró dos Vinhos, and the president of the Intermunicipal Community were also present. of Leiria Region (CIMRL).
Margarida Balseiro Lopes highlighted that it was pointed out by the mayors, as well as by the CIMRL, that there is a desire to have “projects with great social impact in the territory” in these municipalities, ensuring that “these projects are very well viewed and supported by the Government”.
“But the most important thing about today’s meeting is, in fact, to point out that the Revita Fund will be allocated exclusively to these populations,” the minister reiterated.
The Revita Fund was created by the Government of socialist António Costa to manage the donations made as part of the solidarity shown during the 2017 fires, in close coordination with those three municipalities.
66 entities joined the fund, with donations in cash, goods and provision of services.
“Cash donations amount to 5,446,296.31 euros,” states the latest report of the fund (from December 2023), which, “given the magnitude of the responsibilities assumed”, the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Security reinforced its financing “at 2,500,000 euros, which is in addition to the aforementioned value.”
Through the fund, the distribution of the homes to be rebuilt in the municipalities of the Leiria district and in four more, Coimbra and Castelo Branco, was ensured.
“In this context, the different funds have granted the reconstruction of 259 first homes, and it should be noted that, of this group, 247 are already completed,” the report reads.
Revita was directly responsible for the rehabilitation of 99 homes, the majority of which were complete rebuilds.
“By the end of December 2023, 90 of these houses will be finished,” adds Revita in that document, according to which it has paid, in relation to the houses and their respective equipment, around 3.1 million euros.
The same report reveals that the fund has “the amount of 1,396,431.09 euros, accounted for in cash and bank deposits”, corresponding to “cash donations received until March 31, 2023.”
In 2023, by decision of the previous executive, Revita became part of the perimeter of the State Budget, despite criticism against the “nationalization” of the fund by the CIMRL.
Regarding the destination of the remaining amount, the Minister of Youth and Modernization assured that it will be “exclusively for these territories,” noting that “the decision on where to spend the money must be the exclusive decision of the mayors of this region.” .
The fires that broke out on June 17, 2017 – exactly seven years ago, in Pedrógão Grande – and that spread to neighboring municipalities caused the death of 66 people, in addition to injuries to 253 citizens, seven of which were serious. The fires destroyed around half a thousand homes and 50 businesses.
Source: Observadora
