Servicios de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento - La Tribuna del Agua

SERVICIOS DE ABASTECIMIENTO Y SANEAMIENTO
PUERTO CORTÉS SEWER
SYSTEM PROJECT
Marlon Lara and German Sturzenegger
ABSTRACT:
The destruction caused by hurricane Gert in
1993 and the subsequent lack of water that affected
the municipality of Puerto Cortés over the following
months made both the local authorities
and the population aware that their problem was
not going to be solved in Tegucigalpa. Thus it was
that Marlon Lara (a young politician elected mayor
in January 1994) became the spearhead behind
the reform of a water and sanitation system
that led to the decentralisation of these services
and the creation of the Puerto Cortés model.
With the strong backing of the BID, the institutional
model developed by Lara includes 3 components:
A Mixed Capital Company (oriented towards
guaranteeing autonomy in the provision of the
water and sanitation services);
A Trusteeship Fund (aimed at guaranteeing
transparent use of the resources);
A Regulatory Body (intended to guarantee
the respect for the commitments taken on)
The case of Puerto Cortés has shown that decentralisation
in Honduras is possible and that the
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RESÚMENES
municipality can supply the water and sanitation
services to a city (98%) in an efficient way. The
case provides a number of lessons that could be
of use in similar reform processes.
The reforms have a higher likelihood of success
if spearheaded by a local leader.
Institutional solidity is a key element to balance
or prevent excessive personalisation of a reform
and to guarantee its permanence.
The international donors were kept out of
sight of the public in Puerto Cortés, which helped
contribute to the legitimacy of the process.
The municipality had a voice and a vote in
the reform development.
Management of political time.
Keeping the community well informed.
Not underestimating the willingness to pay
for good services.
KEYWORDS:
Puerto Cortés, Honduras, water and sanitation,
decentralisation, Marlon Lara, Inter-American Development
Bank (BID).