KEYPOINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

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• Tren Maya: The head of FONATUR, Javier May Rodriguez, assures that the Tren Maya is environmentally friendly, with the use of low sulfur diesel, reforestation and the construction of viaducts to protect the cenotes and subway rivers. In addition, 44% of the road is electrified with clean energy. On the other hand, the Head of SEMARNAT, Ma. Luisa Albores Gonzalez, highlights the final authorizations and public consultations carried out for the environmental impact statements, as well as the creation of new protected areas and the mitigation of climate change with the Sembrando Vida program. Finally, the Head of the Welfare Secretariat, Ariadna Montiel Reyes, mentions the Welfare programs that will benefit more than 3 million people in the area of the Mayan Train, including senior citizens, people with disabilities and scholarships, and the opening of branches of the Welfare Bank and the benefit to 271 municipalities with the contribution fund. The inauguration of the Mayan Train is scheduled for December 2023, 290 days away.

• Internet for Wellbeing: Emiliano Calderon pointed out that it consists of two telecommunications services, the first is to provide free internet in various spaces. This public service has 65,152 sites in 19,529 remote locations and poor populations and the monthly average is 1,680 connections. This year’s goal is to reach 100,000 sites covering 27,672 localities. On the other hand, the cellular telephony program will deploy 3,600 antennas and there are already 7,500 antennas installed covering 91.9% of the population. The goal will be to reach 94% of the population, installing 2,601 antennas.

Security

• Private security: In previous governments, private security services grew with the help of the government and there is suspicion of corruption in the contracts, even SEGOB hired private police. However, work is being done to create the Federal Protection Police so that the government will be in charge of the surveillance of public offices. The hiring and training of personnel to guarantee the security of banks and public offices was authorized. In the case of Banco de Bienestar, which will have 2,750 branches by mid-year, it is important to guarantee their security. Banco Azteca currently has 1,900 branches.

• Organized crime: The alleged bill in the U.S. Congress to classify Mexican cartels as terrorist groups and the Republican Party’s strategy to interfere in Mexico is considered propaganda by the Mexican government. The U.S. State Department presented its 2021 terrorism report to Congress and assured that there are no Mexican links with terrorist groups and that cooperation between both governments is good. Mexico is an independent and sovereign country and rejects the idea that other countries want to use military force to intervene in its public life. Fentanyl is an issue of concern for both countries, but drug abuse prevention counseling must also be addressed. The government will continue to insist on an outreach campaign in all media about the harm caused by drugs. The next conference will be held from the “Bunker” that former official Garcia Luna used to have.