The 10 municipalities in the Huesca region have received various subsidies, within the PDH Works and Services Plan, to finance construction projects and the acquisition of materials . Mequinenza, being located in the province of Zaragoza, cannot be included in the Huesca projects.
The POS (Works and Services Plan) represents the largest direct investment by the provincial council in infrastructure and facilities for all municipalities in the province of Huesca, excluding the capital city. Subsidized projects include road paving, improvements to water supply and sanitation networks, basic equipment for municipal facilities such as furniture and appliances, and even the improvement of rural roads.
In the Bajo/Baix Cinca region, the projects are diverse. Some municipalities are allocating the funds to sanitation, filtration, and facility upgrades; other towns are focusing on acquiring equipment and furniture; some projects are designed for the rehabilitation and acquisition of public buildings or rural roads. However, what stands out in most municipalities is the importance of this Plan, especially for small towns and villages with few inhabitants.
We have spoken with some mayors in the region and this is what they have told us about the POS
CHALAMERA
" For a town like Chalamera, these projects are the foundation of the major investments we can make in our municipality . That's why it's quite difficult, at times, to choose where to invest that money, since we have neither surplus funds nor any other type of income of such magnitude that would allow us to carry out this type of project. "
Santiago Villas is the mayor of Chalamera , the least populated municipality in the entire Bajo/Baix Cinca region . The 2024 budget is approximately €230.000 , nothing comparable to that of any other town in the area. Chalamera lacks significant fixed income, so grants from various institutions, such as the Huesca Provincial Council, are vital for the municipality's investments.
Furthermore, as Santiago points out, it's important to keep in mind that costs for everything rise every year. " For example, this year there's a significant increase in the contribution we have to make to the region to cover garbage collection services , among others ."
Regarding the POS projects, Villas stated: “ We are currently about to begin the works under the DPH Plan for 2023. We received €76.000 and divided it among three much-needed projects for Chalamera: improving the access road to the municipal cemetery, refurbishing the exterior of the swimming pool, and starting the renovation of the interior of the community bar .” Projects of this kind, with a social focus and designed for the daily lives and well-being of residents, are fundamental for rural municipalities like Chalamera, and without contributions like this, it would be very difficult to carry them out year after year.
With the 2024 funding, the town council plans to carry out two projects that will complete the work already underway , continuing the improvements for the town's residents. Firstly, the interior of the community bar will be renovated, including the replacement of windows, lighting, and air conditioning. Secondly, the interior of the swimming pool bar will be renovated. A contribution of €61.600 has been allocated for these projects, although, as Villas points out, the previous year's contribution has been reduced by approximately €15.000, and the previously mentioned increase in costs and raw materials must be taken into account.
Photograph taken from the Chalamera Town Hall website
TORRENT OF CINCA
“ In recent years, the POS (Provincial Works Plan) and surplus funds have been allocated to improving several streets in the municipality. The 2024 allocation will be used to improve the Town Hall Square. In the near future, we also want to eliminate architectural barriers by installing an elevator to access the Town Hall and improve residents' mobility, so we are also exploring other funding options .”
Rubén Morell is the mayor of Torrente de Cinca . The 2024 budget is approximately €966.000, and this year they received €96.000 from the Huesca Provincial Council's POS (Plan for the Promotion of Work) program. The municipality has a population of around 1.300 inhabitants and they are looking to improve the daily lives of their residents through urban development projects.
As the mayor stated, " These plans, like the POS (Provincial Works Plan), allow small and medium-sized municipalities to carry out large-scale projects. Without this type of subsidy, we wouldn't be able to undertake the urban improvements we've been developing for several years in Torrente ." Morell emphasized the importance of these plans for municipalities with limited budgets, where most investments must be allocated to the daily maintenance of the towns themselves. " There's a comprehensive improvement plan for the streets and squares of Torrente that is implemented year after year; without this type of subsidy, the necessary work couldn't be carried out. "
In future actions, whether with POS subsidies or other types of aid, Rubén Morell highlighted the installation of an elevator to access the town hall and facilitate life and procedures for residents, especially those of advanced age or with reduced mobility, as well as the improvement of some municipal facilities.
Photograph taken from the Torrente City Council website
ZAIDIN
" Agriculture and livestock farming are very important in our town. They are one of the main economic and social drivers. That's why this year we are going to allocate the entire POS (Provincial Works and Services Plan), in addition to our own funds, to the improvement and upgrading of rural roads. "
María José Vicente Poy is the mayor of Zaidín. The municipality has approximately 1.900 inhabitants and this year has a budget of 1,8 million euros, of which more than 525.000 euros are allocated to capital investments. In 2024, they received 112.000 euros from the Provincial Council of Huesca's Works and Services Plan.
In addition to the €112.000 investment from the 2024 Provincial Cooperation Plan for Works and Services, the Zaidín Town Council has added another €38.000, bringing the total investment to €150.000 for road improvement and maintenance. " This is a very important issue for us and our residents. One of the main concerns of the people of Zaidín is having roads in good condition. Farmers and ranchers use them practically every day; they are a vital economic engine for the municipality, and this improves safety and well-being when traveling on these roads ," stated María José.
The importance of agriculture and rural life is something the people of Zaidín know very well. Therefore, having this funding from the Provincial Council of Huesca, thanks to the POS program, allows them to support and improve working conditions in this strategic and essential sector.
However, the residents of the Bajo Cinca municipality haven't forgotten about daily life and social issues. " This year, we will also carry out the renovation of part of the municipal swimming pool building and the work on the football field ," the mayor stated. In this way, thanks to the provincial plan, they can work in various areas and undertake large-scale projects that wouldn't be possible with the town council's own funds alone.
Photograph taken from the DPH website
The tax burden criterion has been eliminated
Isaac Claver, president of DPH, emphasized in the plenary session that “ the 2024 POS (Plan of Operation and Management) represents a fundamental step towards making the plan equitable. The tax burden criterion, which rewarded municipalities that charged higher taxes to their residents with greater investment, has been eliminated .”
Furthermore, Claver assured that the Provincial Council “ will treat all municipalities equally, respecting their autonomy and in no case discriminating against them, nor attempting to influence their fiscal policies.
The Provincial Council of Huesca's 2024 Works and Services Plan does indeed favor municipalities with smaller populations . They will receive more investment per capita.
More funding will also be given to municipalities that have to serve a larger number of population centers (hamlets) «
Photograph taken from the DPH website
See here all the projects financed by the Huesca Provincial Council's Works and Services Plan
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