Albufeira: José Carlos Rolo ends his term with record investment in public works

The financial volume invested is unparalleled in history, and corresponds to 277 contracts distributed across various areas. At the press conference to review the last four years, the Mayor, José Carlos Rolo, highlighted the “importance of the investments made for the sustainable development of Albufeira”.

With the end of another local government cycle, it is time to take stock of the mandate that is now entering its final stretch. That is exactly what happened this afternoon (02), in the Main Hall of the Albufeira Town Hall, which was packed to hear the mayor defend the “largest volume of investment recorded in the municipality since living memory”.

José Carlos Rolo began by highlighting the “exceptional difficulties we have faced in recent years, as a result of the effects of the pandemic, the consequences of the significant increase in inflation, and the shortage of skilled workers”. Although he acknowledged that “several challenges remain that need to be addressed”, the mayor highlighted “the enormous effort made by the executive to resolve deficiencies in critical areas such as security, social action, education, and housing”.

At the session held this Wednesday, the book “Obras 2021-2025” was presented. The document contains detailed information on all the contracts carried out over the last 4 years, and is divided into several sectoral areas.

With a total investment of over 41 million euros, the “Schools and School Equipment” sector tops the list, followed by the amount channelled to “Social Action and Health” (25 million euros) and Housing (24 million euros). In total, the municipality has invested nearly 144 million euros over the last four years.

The list of 277 contracts includes several regular maintenance works on infrastructures linked to the road network, water supply, or sports facilities in the municipality. In this context, it is important to highlight works such as the requalification

refurbishment of the Ferreiras Sports Complex, as well as a wide range of interventions in various public spaces in the municipality – including, for example, the construction of the Ferreiras Cemeteries (currently under public tender, with a budget allocation of over 1.5 million euros). In addition, the catalogue of works also includes structural works that will make it possible to fill gaps in key sectors.

In the area of ​​health, the highlight is the creation of the new Guia Continuing Care Unit. With an investment of over 4 million euros, the project will help to double the capacity to provide health care to people in situations of dependency.

Work is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, when a new tender will also be launched for the renovation of the current Albufeira Health Centre building, as well as for the construction of a new block. The project has already been approved and has a funding volume of around 7 million euros.

As far as Social Action is concerned, the focus was on the construction of the Olhos de Água Home, Nursery and Day Centre, completed in 2023.

The investment was close to 6 million euros, to which is added a new project for the construction of the Fontainhas Home and Day Centre , for a value of close to 8 million euros. It is expected that, in this case too, the equipment will be completed by the end of the year.

In Education, the period between 2021 and 2025 coincided with the requalification of several spaces, with the aim of improving school equipment and the conditions provided to students in the municipality. The sector was the one that received the largest volume of investment, as a result of the work carried out in several educational establishments in the municipality.

The highlights are the interventions at the EB 2,3 Prof.ª Diamantina Negrão School (with an investment of around 2.3 million euros), and the expansion of the Ferreiras Basic School (with an allocation of 5.6 million euros). The project to expand and remodel the Albufeira Secondary School, with an allocation of 15 million euros, is also about to enter the tender phase.

At a time marked by rising housing costs, the municipality also sought to increase investment in this area. As a result, the 40 homes built on Ladeira da Fonte, in Paderne, are now inhabited.

The project cost the municipality almost 5 million euros, which already has public tenders underway for construction projects in Fontainhas (with an investment of more than 13 million euros) and in Quinta dos Barros (with almost 6 million euros budgeted).

For the president of the municipal executive, “the book we are presenting today is more than a balance sheet exercise, it is an act of transparency that we owe to the citizens”.

José Carlos Rolo admitted that “there is still a lot of work to be done, and this book is also a starting point for discussion about the future of the municipality, where we want to include all those who are concerned about the future of the community”.