El Siglo reports on a tender held by the government for the construction of the Northwest aqueduct, a project estimated to cost about US$160 million. The winning company, Norberto Odebrecht from Brazil, did not present the cost, the design nor explain how the project would be financed nor where its funding would come from. President of another firm, Nelson Sanchez of Arquitectos Civiles y Sanitarios, accused Technical Secretary of the Presidency Rafael Calderon of maneuvering to favor the Brazilian firm. Other competing firms were Consorcio ALN, Biwater International, Suarez y Rosario/Cid-Cid, Andrade Gutierrez, Acueductos y Alcantarillados. El Siglo says that a document from the Institute of Potable Water (Inapa) says the tender gave insufficient and unclear terms of reference. It affirms that the offers made vary in regards to the populations that would benefit and that because of a lack of sufficient details comparisons could not be made among the cost estimates.
