He Operating Agency of the Drinking Water and Sewage System of Tehuacán (Oosapat) faces a difficult financial situation and will inherit 52 million pesos of debt to the incoming administration.
The current municipal administration inherited an accumulated liability of 79 million pesos, generated by previous administrations, and To date, around 27 million pesos have been paid, without the debt being settled.
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“It is an issue that concerns us, but it is not generated by our administration,” emphasized Pedro Tepole, municipal president, by clarifying the versions that held him responsible, since the debt has been dragging on for a long time and it is a challenge that it has tried to face without compromising the services provided by the organization.
One of the aspects that aggravates the situation is the debt that Oosapat maintains with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), with whom it has a pending receipt for 4.5 million pesos. Given this situation, the possibility of granting a subsidy to cover part of this debt is being evaluated. and ensure that the electrical service is not interrupted, since its continuity is essential for the functioning of the organization and for the city in general.
Despite the economic difficulties, Tepole Hernández assured that they have made a significant effort to maintain the quality of the drinking water and sewage service for citizens. However, the mayor recognized that one of the biggest challenges has been non-payment of fees, which has generated an accumulation of financial obligations that add up year after year, aggravating the economic outlook of the agency.
The president called on the next municipal administration, chaired by Alejandro Barroso Chávez, so that he carefully considers the financial situation he inherits. Tepole Hernández stressed that it will be a great challenge for the new administration to resolve the debt issue, especially in the first months of his administration.
Although the current administration is performing an analysis of overdue bills, the definitive solution will have to come from the next management, which must find innovative and efficient ways to solve the problem without affecting the provision of the service.
Oosapat owed Conagua
In June 2022, the then director of the organization, Jaime Joel Castañeda Benitez, reported that Oosapat also had a debt of 14 million pesos with the National Water Commission (Conagua). This debt was attributed to the decrease in income of the organization, which has made payments difficult to both Conagua and other suppliers. The financial situation has been a recurring issue for the agency, which expects an improvement in income in the coming weeks to be able to meet its pending commitments.
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Castañeda Benítez explained that the original debt with Conagua amounted to 33 million pesos, but, as of mid-2022, 19 million had been paid, leaving a balance of 14 million to be settled. This amount includes fines imposed by Conagua due to the lack of treatment plants of wastewater in the city, which increased Oosapat’s financial obligations. Likewise, the organization managed to resolve a debt of 8 million pesos with the CFE, which was settled in January 2022.
Despite these efforts, the financial picture remains difficult, and Oosapat faces constant pressure to meet its obligations. The hope lies in that, With an increase in collection, the agency can catch up with pending payments and guarantee the stability of basic services in Tehuacán.
