The recent surge of wildfires impacting the nation and the Centro region, leading to a state of alert since August 2, has prompted the NERC to call for “urgent support measures for the entrepreneurs and citizens in the Coimbra region.”
Expressing sorrow over the death of a firefighter en route to battle a blaze in Covilhã, “in the line of duty,” and a former mayor of Guarda, while “attempting to save lives and property,” the association described the current situation as “another tragedy affecting all Portuguese in recent days.”
“These men and women are at their limit! They are tired, exhausted, facing an uneven battle against fire, neglect, and resource shortages. Yet, they continue to rush into danger when everyone else flees. The reality is harsh and unfair for our firefighters, entrepreneurs, and citizens in the Coimbra and Centro interior regions, who daily confront this calamity!” the NERC stated in a communiqué released to agency Lusa.
The ongoing wildfire outbreak “exposes existing vulnerabilities, especially in Portugal’s interior, regarding forest fire prevention, clearing, and combat strategies.”
Consequently, the business association argues there is a “need to audit the investments of the Centro2020 and PRR funds” allocated to “various interventions following the 2017 disaster, which coincidentally affected the same region and entrepreneurs in the troubled interior of the Centro region.”
“The NERC, entrepreneurs in the Coimbra region, and the civil society at large demand to know what became of the PRR funds intended for forest, cadastral, and other supports.”
Specifically, they questioned: “What happened to the community funds of the ‘Aldeia Segura Pessoas Seguras’ program?”
The Intermunicipal Community of the Coimbra Region (CIMRC) is targeted by the association, which seeks explanations on the implementation of forest fire defense networks (RDFCI), intended to prevent and hinder fire spread and facilitate fire combat access via firebreaks.
“Given the current situation, and recognizing that much of the burnt territory belongs to CIMRC (Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Vila Nova de Poiares, Tábua, Arganil, Oliveira do Hospital, Góis, Pampilhosa da Serra), it’s important to audit where the millions of euros allocated for RDFCI objectives have been spent.”
The NERC also demands explanations from CIMRC on “why a SIRESP tender, exceeding half a million euros, was launched during the calamity.” The investment was announced on August 18.
The association pledges to “advocate with governmental, intermunicipal, and municipal entities for concrete support measures for entrepreneurs and citizens in the Coimbra region.”
To assist “all entrepreneurs and citizens affected by this calamity in the Coimbra and Centro region,” the association offers a support channel via the address ge***@**rc.pt.
