Cuenca’s mayor used the city’s anniversary ceremony to lay out a broad plan for rebuilding around what he described as core priorities: health, environmental sustainability, services, job security, and a renewed sense of seriousness in public administration.

  • Focus areas include health, environment, services, jobs, and governance
  • Three rural hospitals highlighted: El Valle, Baños, and Ricaurte
  • More than 37 km of rural sewer lines completed
  • 658,900 trees planted toward a one million goal
  • USD 135.6 million in contracts tied to over 49,000 jobs

Mayor Cristian Zamora pointed to completed and ongoing projects as proof of progress, saying his administration has followed through on all 101 proposals in its plan. He emphasized that accountability remains central to his approach, framing delivery on commitments as the measure of success.

In healthcare, he highlighted the construction of three rural hospitals. El Valle is already operating, Baños is completed and nearing opening, and Ricaurte is part of a broader push to strengthen the system.

Environmental efforts include the planned purchase of new waste collection vehicles, expanded sewer infrastructure in rural areas, and the acquisition of 12 million square meters of moorland now managed to protect water sources. Tree planting has also advanced, with more than half of the one million target already in the ground.

On the economic front, the administration reported record investment levels through December 2025, with contracts totaling over USD 135 million. Those projects are tied to more than 10,000 direct jobs and nearly 40,000 indirect positions.

Looking ahead, Zamora floated a long-term vision of turning Cuenca into a regional technology hub, aiming to retain talent and build a stronger local innovation base. He also pointed to expanded connectivity, including air links to the Galapagos Islands and ongoing work toward cross-border flights with Peru.

During the same event, officials signed the contract for the Youth Park, a project valued at USD 2.85 million. The development will cover more than 36,000 square meters in the Gapal sector and forms part of the administration’s broader project list.