2022News

Senators pass Land Use bill; Faride Raful says bill was mutilated

After more than a decade of stagnation in the National Congress, the Senate finally passed the Land Use bill. The bill was drafted by senators Ricardo de los Santos and Felix Bautista.

The objective of the Land Use Bill is to organize the territory at the different political-administrative levels, in accordance with the guidelines of environmental, economic, social, cultural, risk management and sustainable development.

The law will allow to establish which zones can be used for agriculture and urbanization, as well as where to build schools and hospitals. “This way we will be able to properly organize the territory and the rural and urban settlements,” Deputy Elias Matos explained.

National District senator Faride Raful said she did not vote in favor of the bill because it was watered down in the Chamber of Deputies. The deputies amended the bill that had been harmonized by a bicameral committee. When in the Chamber of Deputies, the deputies inserted discretionary powers to government officials. The senators chose to pass it anyway.

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21 December 2022