CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, has presented the Guide in Lima “Rural roads: A door to development and territorial connectivity”, a study that analyzes the situation of the roads in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

The event was attended by the Vice Minister of Transportation Ismael Sutta, the Vice Minister of Tourism, Madeleine Burns, the Executive Director of Provias Descentralizado, Óscar Chávez, the northern regional manager of CAF, Santiago Rojas, as well as directors and representatives of the agricultural sector, from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and also from the National Society of Industries, from the private sector.

With this publication, the institution seeks to promote in Latin America the value of roads whose care deserves to become a habit and custom, since approximately less than 20% of the length of rural roads is in good condition in each country analyzed. region of.

In the specific case of Peru, the country where this document has been presented, only 5% of the secondary and tertiary road network (departmental and local) is paved, while 64% is dirt and 31% is granular surface .

This situation in the countries analyzed is explained, according to the document, by the fact that routine maintenance is insufficient or deficient and that traditional approaches to the provision of rural roads in many low- and middle-income countries have historically been based on technologies developed in rural environments. foreign to those that prevail in them, which may well be suitable for the roads of the main network, and even for those of the secondary network, "but it is possible that they are inapplicable or too expensive for rural roads with low traffic volume", points out the CAF guide.

During his opening remarks at the event, CAF's northern regional manager, Santiago Rojas, highlighted: “we recognize that attention to the road network of rural roads is crucial to promoting development, productive transformation, job creation and connectivity. territorial. All of this is achieved with more modest investments compared to other infrastructures, further highlighting its strategic importance. In addition to presenting this guide, we will share valuable lessons learned from infrastructure financing programs in countries such as Argentina, Paraguay and Peru. These experiences will allow us to strengthen our strategies and approaches to address the challenges we face in this area.”

Positive experiences

He CAF document points out that the governments of the countries analyzed have also implemented policies, plans and programs in favor of rural roads, such as the Productive Rural Roads Program in Argentina; the Integration Paths Program – Field Patrol in Brazil; Rural Colombia and community roads for total peace in Colombia, among others.

In the specific case of Peru, it states that PROVIAS Rural was, for more than two decades, the most relevant program in Latin America for the recovery and conservation of rural roads. This program focused on developing the road network in regions where communities with the greatest number of unmet basic needs lived; For its implementation, there were government policies and support from international organizations.

Also noteworthy is the Road Infrastructure Program for Regional Competitiveness (PROREGIÓN), whose objective is the efficient provision of infrastructure and transportation and logistics services in the link between production areas and collection centers. This program is a component of the Logistics Development Plan on subnational roads that promotes regional integration and competitiveness and in its first phase – financed by a loan contract signed between CAF and the Peruvian Government – ​​it improves 4,202 km and will preserve the passability of 4,948 km corresponding to 18 corridors located in 16 departments of the country.

Proposals

The roads are a source of prosperity and work; They are part of inclusion to enjoy meeting points and, in this way, enable healthy coexistence, peace, progress and social well-being under the objectives of sustainable development.

This is why CAF recommends structuring a sequential strategy that involves conserving, as a priority and due, the roads and sections that are in good condition and giving special attention to drainage in the territories that require it; as well as carry out periodic conservation of the roads that are in fair condition; execute the rehabilitation of roads that are in deteriorated condition and the reconstruction of roads that are in critical condition to recover them and bring them to a higher standard.

It also recommends that States have unemployed or underemployed personnel in rural areas, which could justify and facilitate the implementation of road recovery and conservation plans and programs through community participation.