WASHINGTON, D.C., August 9, 2013 – Close to 85 thousand Ecuadorians will directly benefit from improvements to water, sanitation and transportation services in the coastal municipality of Manta, as a result of a new US$100 million loan approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Directors.
Among other objectives, the Manta Public Services Improvement Project seeks to increase the availability of water supplies and the efficiency of water and sewage services, enhance urban mobility and accessibility via improvements to the street grid, including sidewalks, and strengthen the municipal government’s capacities in terms of planning and provisioning said services.
The Mayor of Manta, Jaime Estrada Bonilla, thanked the World Bank for the celerity with which it approved the loan, which was granted by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (IBRD) window for medium-income countries. “This project falls within the Canton’s Land Use Plan, which promotes respect for human rights, socialization among citizens, and improvements to their quality of life. These water and sanitation works will help expand the coverage of these services to around 90 percent of the city,” Estrada said. The Mayor also highlighted that “this loan provides continuity to the urban regeneration that aims to facilitate mobility and accessibility across the city’s main roads.”
The investment in water supply and sewage systems will benefit the citizens of Los Esteros, Manta and Tarqui districts; around 71,000 people in total. The investment in urban mobility will benefit the residents of these same municipalities as well as the residents of Manta’s downtown area and Eloy Alfaro, around 85,000 beneficiaries in all. Additionally, they will promote the tourist industry, as well as inter-municipal mobility with Montecristi and Jaramijo municipalities.
The institutional strengthening component of the project will serve to improve the quality and sustainability of these public services, which will benefit every Manta resident.
“This loan will permit an equitable access to essential public services and will improve infrastructure for poor households, contributing to a greater well-being and quality of life amongst the most vulnerable people,” said Susan Goldmark, World Bank Director for Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
The project will cost a total of US$115.6 million. The Municipality will contribute US$15.6 million. The IBRD $100 million loan has a 25-year maturity period and a 5-year grace period.
