As part of the policy and plans to improve the infrastructure of the National Customs Service throughout Chile, in 2017 more than 40 projects of varying magnitude have been executed or are being executed, which have meant an investment of $2.796.878.402 (US$4.497.610), corresponding to approximately 4% of the institution's total budget.
The portfolio of initiatives has covered practically all of Chile, generating works in the Customs facilities from Arica to Punta Arenas.
"This is an ambitious plan that is associated with development and modernization. of our service, fulfilling the objective of providing better working conditions to our officials, especially those who work shifts at the checkpoints, and also to the users we must serve daily," said the National Director of Customs, Claudio Sepulveda.
He added that “for us as a Service it is a priority, since it is a 3-year program in which we are investing approximately $1.200 billion (US$1.929.700) per year, excluding the new buildings because we applied for them separately and that is another $1.000 billion (US$1.608.080) more.”
Projects
In the breakdown of this number of projects, they stand out in the north of the country the expansion of the housing modulesIt is at the El Loa Outpost and the improvement of the shed and installation of housing modules at the Quillagua Outpost, both internal control points that are located on the border of the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions.
In El Loa, with an investment of around $66 million, a second home is being built in a safe area away from the risks brought by tsunamis. It will have 16 modules that will allow for greater space for both the bedrooms and the bathrooms used by Customs inspectors.
En Quillagua The investment amounts to $394 million (US$633.584) to build the shed where passenger inspections are carried out due to the greater height of the buses currently. In addition, four rooms will be built consisting of modules divided into two rooms and a central bathroom for the staff.
Continuing with the regions, the Customs of Talcahuano was awarded the construction of a new home for officials at the Icalma border crossing in the Araucanía Region. Specifically, a 120 m2 house in which $65 million (US$104.525) was invested.
Similar works were considered for the Customs of Punta Arenas, where more than $27 million (US$43.418) were allocated for the remodeling of the house at the San Sebastián border crossing, in the Province of Tierra del Fuego.
For Customs of San Antonio Modules with new offices are being completed, costing $150 million (US$241.212), to cope with the increase in customs officials at this port.
Also noteworthy is the $157 million (US$252.469) invested in the works of the second phase to enable the new Training Center of the National Customs Service located on Beauchef Avenue, Santiago, where service officials are trained in various areas.
Meanwhile, in the Regional Customs building of Valparaiso, inaugurated in 1855, declared a National Monument in 1976 and requiring continuous maintenance, almost $26 million (US$41.810) was invested in painting the façade, in addition to the restoration of some ornamentation and parts of the eaves affected by wood rot, maintaining the current colors and tones that have been used since 2006 with the approval of the National Monuments Council.
For the National Directorate in Valparaíso, one of the largest investments is the expansion of the Esmeralda Building (formerly the Central Bank, built in 1928), for more than $1.000 million (US$1.608.080), and the construction of the elevator for the Tomás Ramos building (formerly Imprenta y Litografía Universo), which has a cost of $310 million (US$498.505).
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
