President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said this Tuesday (7) that there will be no shortage of federal resources to meet the needs of Rio Grande do Sul, a state heavily hit by storms and floods since the end of April.
“Brazil owes a lot to Rio Grande do Sul. It is a very important state from an artistic, cultural, work and our culture point of view. What we are going to do is give back to Rio Grande do Sul what it deserves to be given back so it can get on with its life,” he stated.
In an interview with radio stations during the program Good morning, Presidentproduced by Brazilian Communication Company (EBC), Lula highlighted that the federal government’s goal is not to allow bureaucracy to create obstacles to the release of resources to the state.
“The initial difficulty is that no mayor, the governor said this in clear words last Sunday, is aware of the damage that has been done. For now, people imagine, think. But we will only have the real state of affairs when the water recedes and we see what actually happened in Rio Grande do Sul.”
Regarding the draft legislative decree, sent by the federal government, which recognizes the state of public calamity in Rio Grande do Sul and already approved by the Chamber of Delegates, Lula assessed that the proposal is to start releasing resources through the ministries.
“The Ministry of Health can release resources, the Ministry of National Integration, the Ministry of Education. It releases resources according to the fundamental needs, which are sending children to school, placing people in the hospital, purchasing medicine, fuel, water and food. This money goes out normally through the ministry, without much bureaucracy.”
“What I can guarantee is that there is 100% will from the Chamber, the Senate, the Court of Auditors and the Judiciary for us to make resources as easy as possible,” he said. “The ministries have structures in the states, but we want to work together with the state secretariats”, he added, citing the recovery of federal and even state roads.
“The emergency will be released from today. Several ministries already have authorization to start releasing initial resources for first aid. Afterwards, we will work together with the governor on a project”, he concluded.
