 The Magallanes Region, in the southern extreme of Chile, recovered normality today after the Government signed an agreement protocol with the Citizen Assembly which, for seven days, kept the region paralyzed, with roads blocked and commercial and transport activities interrupted.
In the picture, from left to right, undersecretary of Interior Rodrigo Ubilla, secretary Laurence Golborne and Magallanes governor Liliana Kusanovic.
Citizen’s protest started when the Government announced an increase of 16.8 per cent of the price natural gas, which is produced in Magallanes and used as much as inhabitants of the region for cooking sand heating as well by companies, collective transport and industries like electricityand running water companies, so the increase was to mean an important impact on Magallanes inhabitants.Members of the Citizens Assembly and secretary of Mining and Energy Laurence Golborne signed the agreement which put an end to the strike.
Government proposed to moderate the increase of the price of natural gas increasing only the inflation rate of 2010, which was 3% on fares for thenext ten months. Besides, return to 25 thousand cubic meters so industries which were to be damaged by the increase will be now within a subsidy benefit.
The original idea was to reduce this 25 thousand m3 limit to 1,000, which would have meant users over 1,000 m3 wouldn’t be subsidized.On the other hand, Government proposed to give 17 thousand subsidies to poorest families so these won’t be affected by 3% increase.
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