Following a call to join efforts to confront problems facing this city and port, on the afternoon of Feb. 26th the first of a series of gatherings was held in order to create committees made up of Mexicans and Americans working together for one common goal - Puerto Peñasco.
The municipal civic auditorium set the stage for nearly 300 people from different city sectors to came together, all in agreement concerning the need to cooperate in order to overcome the current obstacles facing this tourist destination. Read more…

Six agents removed due to improper behavior

The process of cleaning up and combating internal crime within the Municipal Police department is making slow but sure progress. To date, six police agents have been removed due to improper conduct, including the jailing of one undergoing penal process, and four agents have resigned on their own.
Reports from the Public Safety office indicate that discipline and attention to complaints from the community have allowed them to make positive strides in recuperating trust in the police department. Read more…

Agents test negative

All Municipal Transit Police that recently underwent surprise drug testing proved to have negative results, reported Public Safety Director René Barranco Zárate.
Barranco Zárate remarked that 170 active agents within the department were subject to drug tests and no one came up positive for the use of marijuana, cocaine, or crystal meth. Read more…

Mayor discards notion of reducing taxes.

Severity is the principal tool the local government is implementing to confront the economic crisis currently taking its toll around the world. In addition, explained Mayor Heriberto Rentería Sánchez, they are open to all strategies that imply protection of employment and economic growth.
After noting it is not viable to reduce taxes, the Mayor stressed they cannot speak of specific implementation of a municipal anti-crisis plan, though they can discuss specific measures to care for resources in order to assure the administration remains operational.
He remarked all government offices are adjusting to the current reality and the amount of resources reaching the municipality, which is very complicated but they are forging ahead.
He explained the community demands good quality services and they have to work on fulfilling these goals, as they have been able to up to this point through strict measures they have had to implement.
Rentería Sánchez stated it is not viable, nor is it the solution, to reduce municipal taxes, and specifically property taxes, in order to confront the economic crisis as this could complicate things even more.
Furthermore, he added, despite high property values, they have maintained taxes below the commercial rate while not reducing them.
The Mayor stated that despite the economic crisis, the municipal authority continues to take steps to put funds into projects in order to confront the lack of money circulating in the system.
He pointed out that first and second level municipal officials received a pay cut of between 20 to 50%, as part of the severe measures they are taking to confront the severe global economic crisis.

With a simple and well deserved ceremony honoring their years of service, six teachers retiring from schools in zone 097 of Peñasco left their classrooms for the last time following thirty years of uninterrupted work in the area of education.
Dances, poetry and songs were part of the emotional ceremony highlighting the work of teachers Josefina Ayala Soto, Eva Campa Robles, Celia Yolanda Cruz Camargo, María Luisa Carrillo Zazueta, Santos Delia Ayala Murillo and Juan Antonio Flores García. Read more…

Awareness training workshop

In order to involve local teachers in tasks of rape prevention, an awareness training workshop was recently held for area schools.
Nearly 50 teachers participated in the implementation of the program, which also included the participation of 26 offices, both state as well as municipal. The first step of the program was held at the auditorium of the Municipal Public Safety office. Read more…

Peñasco maintains fifth ranking in Sonora.

With an overall yield of 7,908 tons, the fishing production of Puerto Peñasco grew 10.6% in 2008, with a difference over 2007 of 759 tons in total for the nine most important species in the area, reported César Alejandro Villaescusa Fontes, director of the local Fishing Office.
Villaescusa Fontes noted the port has been able to maintain its standing as fifth among those of extraction of marine resources in Sonora, following Guaymas, Huatabampo, Obregón, and Kino Bay. Read more…

Crime prevention workshops at eleven local schools come to a close.

Following work with 4,429 elementary school children, crime prevention workshops put on by the municipal Public Safety office recently came to a close. The workshop had been held at eleven local morning session schools.
The Municipal Youth Institute was the site of the closure event where recognitions were presented to the participating schools. Gratitude was expressed for allowing them to work with the young students on the prevention of antisocial behavior. Read more…

“Sharing Strengths” campaign held in Peñasco.

Offering information concerning activities of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), as well as alternatives to treatment offered to those with drug and alcohol abuse problems, was the objective of the recent campaign “Sharing Strengths” held in Peñasco. Read more…

María Asunción Macías appointed as director.

Although a new obstacle in construction has once again delayed the opening to the public of the new Family Medical Unit Number 9, Dr. María Asunción Macías Sandoval has been designated to head up the health center.
Macías Sandoval was substituted at the General IMSS Hospital office of Subzone number 9 by anesthesiologist Juan Manuel Villegas Castellanos, as of January 16th, when it was determined to organizationally divide the two Social Security hospitals in Puerto Peñasco. Read more…

Significant advances were made in the area of patient care at the General Hospital in 2008 as complaints dropped by approximately 20% over the previous year, or rather from 213 to 167, reported José Julio Chávez León, hospital director from the Secretary of Health.
Chávez León indicated this index represents less than 1% of the 33,000 patients to whom they provide services annually on average at the institution. Read more…

Aim to maintain order and transparency.

Nearly six months prior to the end of the 2006-2009 administration, preparation for the transition period is already underway for the new officials to be elected July 5th, reported current Mayor Heriberto Rentería Sánchez.
The Mayor stressed the instruction is that the governmental transition be done orderly, with clarity and transparency. Read more…

Resignations requested from three municipal officials

Adjustments and the reorganization of four municipal offices was recently undergone following the requested resignation of the directors of Oomapas, Social Development, and Planning and Economic Development, confirmed Mayor Heriberto Rentería Sánchez.
The Mayor indicated that subdirector Arturo Félix Gastélum stepped into the leadership role at the Municipal Operating Body of Potable Water, Sewage and Sanitation office (Oomapas), substituting Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta. Read more…

Involving civil society and authorities.

It is of the utmost importance that the community is aware of safety procedures at the airport, and concerning aviation in general, particularly given the upcoming operations at the new Sea of Cortez airport, reports Alejandro Rangel Ocegueda, commander at the international airport.
Rangel Ocegueda indicated they are therefore calling together representatives from civil society, the press, and authorities to review factors that need to be taken into account in order to reduce risks of current or future emergencies. Read more…

As part of events held across the globe on February 2nd to commemorate World Wetlands Day, the Intercultural Center of Desert and Ocean Studies (CEDO), launched the XV Environmental Contest CEDO 2009, inviting the participation of students from all levels, teachers, as well as members of other organizations and social clubs.
The yearly environmental contests involve youth from Puerto Peñasco through participation in order to strengthen their knowledge about a particular environmental theme relevant to the local community. Read more…

Intent to attract tourism.

Local hotels, condominiums and those managing rental homes across the city came to an agreement to freeze rates in order to attract more tourism and strengthen the periods of Spring Break, and Holy Week, reported Rafael González Valenzuela, director of the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
González Valenzuela remarked that given the critical situation the area is currently facing, they opted to not increase rates and leave them the same as last year, as well as to work to standardize them based on accommodation categories. Read more…

Morning sessions fill up.

As has been the case during the past six years, just one day was enough for the morning sessions at local elementary schools to fill up following the launch of advance school registrations by the Secretary of Education and Culture, officially programmed to be held from February 3rd - 13th.
As in other years, families lined up at schools, some as early as dawn, in order to assure they were able to get their children registered for classes. Read more…

Center receives recognition from the Commission for the Promotion of Tourism and Center of Sustainable Destinations of the National Geographic Society.

Having been selected as a geo-tourism destination, according to the international magazine of the National Geographic Society, the Intercultural Center of Desert and Ocean Studies, A.C. on January 13th received a special acknowledgement. Read more…

Accrediting academic programs for the three professional degrees currently offered, while opening up new areas of study in Civil Engineering, are priorities for the Superior Technological Institute of Puerto Peñasco, affirmed Enrique Carrión Contreras, Institute Director.
Carrión Contreras stated with regards to new professional degree programs, they have already taken appropriate steps and are awaiting a response from the Secretary of Education in order to put together a promotional campaign. Read more…

Given that recreational sports fishing represents tremendous potential for Puerto Peñasco, steps are being taken towards promoting this activity, which has not yet been fully explored in this area.
A recent forum held in Peñasco, entitled “Local Actions in the area of sport fishing,” included the participation of authorities and sports fishermen who addressed central themes including coordination of the two levels of government in the area of sport fishing and future actions for the management of this activity. Read more…

With just over 60 local people on hand, therapists from the Sonora Dolphinarium, which has been operating out of San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas since 2006, presented information on how to use dolphin-therapy services among persons with disabilities.
The municipal auditorium set the scene for the gathering, welcoming parents of at least 20 children with central nervous system problems who are interested in dolphin assisted therapy. Read more…