Fishing groups across the region blame the massive die-off on a lack of oxygenation in the water due to poor management at the Mexicana de Hidroelectricidad Mexhidro (Mexhidro) hydroelectric plant, located in the municipality of Cutzamala de Pinzón.

“For four days now, the tilapia has been dying in the entire dam; it is sad that neither the state nor the federal government pay attention. Who knows what they want us to do?” a local group of fishermen from the Guerrero town of La Dicha told the newspaper La Jornada.

Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua) constructed the El Gallo dam on the Cutzamala River in the northwestern part of the state of Guerrero to expand the irrigation system to the valleys of Cutzamala and Ciudad Altamirano.

In 2007, Mexhidro completed a hydroelectric plant to produce clean energy for the states of Morelos, Michoacán, Guerrero and México state.

Fishing groups say that the floodgates at the dam are not opened often enough, leading to a lack of water oxygenation, which then causes mass fish die-offs. The eight cooperatives operating in the region have reported similar experiences along the reservoir’s 30-kilometer length.

| Alertan por pérdida de unas 100 toneladas de tilapia en la presa El Gallo.
https://t.co/agH2S1jgGE pic.twitter.com/eHIOWaHd2z

— El Sur periódico de Guerrero (@elsurdeguerrero) December 31, 2024

The cooperatives have been reporting the issue since 2013 and are now calling on President Claudia Sheinbaum to intervene. Fishermen previously caught between 20 and 30 metric tons of fish a year in the region, supporting the supply of Mexico City’s famous La Viga fish market. However, this figure has fallen significantly in recent years.

Each metric ton of fish lost is valued at 50,000 to 60,000 pesos (US $2,420-2,905), according to reports from the news site Sur Acapulco.

Local fishing groups have threatened to protest if the government does not intervene.

Cutzamala: A key Mexican waterway

The Cutzamala River originates in the central state of Michoacán and ends in Guerrero. Dams on the upper part of the river provide water to Mexico City, via an aqueduct over the mountains known as the Cutzamala System.

The system is one of the world’s largest networks of dams, canals and pipes, supplying around 27% of the capital’s water. However, in recent years, water levels in the system have decreased due to drought and other factors, falling to a historic low of below 30% in May 2024, according to Conagua.

As Mexico City officials race to develop alternative water networks, Mayor Clara Brugada last week announced a plan to halve the capital’s reliance on the Cutzamala reservoir system for the next two years. The goal of cutting withdrawals is to allow the water levels of Cutzamala System reservoirs to recover from extended drought conditions, and any excess water could boost downstream reservoirs like El Gallo in Guerrero.

With reports from La Jornada, Sur Acapulco, The New York Times and Infobae

The post Mismanagement to blame for massive fish die-offs, Guerrero fishermen say appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The long-awaited project helps to address a major cross-border pollution problem by improving the treatment of wastewater flowing north from the Tijuana River.

State Treasurer Fiona Ma Urges Congress to Support Cleanup Measures in Tijuana River Valley Watershed Following Trip to San Diego County: https://t.co/hH2r8wjobB pic.twitter.com/5oYiU3vaG7

— Fiona Ma, CPA (@fionama) October 17, 2024

Wastewater from the city of Tijuana is supposed to be diverted, treated and discharged into the Pacific Ocean before entering the Tijuana River Valley in southern California. The city’s sewage treatment facilities are outdated and overwhelmed, however, leading to a clog in the system that pushes an unsightly mass of sewage and debris north of the border, particularly impacting Imperial Beach in San Diego.

As a result, Imperial Beach is considered one of the United States’ most polluted beaches nationwide.

“No more excuses and no more delays,” Fox 5 reported Democratic Congressman Mike Levin saying. “They now have all the money they need and all the money that they’ve said is necessary to get this plant done.”

The new funding package is expected to double the San Diego facility’s capacity to 50 million gallons a day within an estimated five to seven years. 

Over the last five years, more than 100 billion gallons of sewage and waste have reportedly run into the Tijuana River Valley. San Diegans have been calling on the government to address the worsening pollution for years, hoping it will lead to the eventual reopening of Imperial Beach. 

In January, Baja California officials broke ground on work to reconstruct and modernize Tijuana’s existing wastewater treatment plant in San Antonio de los Buenos. The upgrades are part of an estimated US $500 million binational project financed by the North American Development Bank, an entity funded and run equally by the federal governments of the U.S. and Mexico to provide financing for infrastructure projects.

New 450-meter barrier takes on Tijuana River Valley trash

Also in December, the state of California launched an innovative trash-collecting project with federal funding of $4.7 million. A trash boom measuring 137 meters (450 feet) in length and consisting of 150 individual sections tethered together has been anchored to both sides of the Tijuana River.  

The boom is expected to help gather particle pollution close to the source outflow and stop waste from reaching the ocean, with the first phase of the project running to 2027.

“California is working with our local and federal partners to address the ongoing Tijuana River crisis,” California Governor Gavin Newsom stated. “This project to stop trash from clogging the river is part of an all-of-the-above approach we’re taking to help protect Tijuana River Valley communities.”

Oscar Romo, the Project Director at Alta Terra, proposed the project around two decades ago. The large, floating boom is designed to adapt to the changing topography of the river valley.  

“The valley changes constantly every year after the storms,” Romo said. “All the hydraulic models that have been done have to be redone because they changed this year,” NBC San Diego reported Romo saying. “We are prepared, and we have started mapping the valley with a drone that produces lighter images, so we would have an exact three-dimensional map of the valley before the storms, during the storms and after the storms.” 

While the boom project doesn’t address the sewage issue, it will go hand in hand with the wastewater treatment plant expansion to tackle water pollution on both sides of the border.

With reports from Fox 5 San Diego, Surfer, NBC San Diego and Axios

The post Tijuana River cleanup takes major step forward appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Each year, participants get to work carving their radishes into extravagant figures to display in front of a panel of judges for their chance to win a cash prize. There are several categories, including “anything goes” (libre) and traditional Oaxacan themes, as well as children and youth competitions. All entrants must be from Oaxaca state. 

Participants have carved a wide array of figures in the past, from mariachis to Mexican luchadores. Many choose religious themes, such as The Last Supper and the Nativity, given the competition’s proximity to Christmas. Sculptures often weigh as much as three kilograms. 

“The Night of the Radishes is as significant to us as Christmas,” local tour guide Andrea Hagan told the news site Thrillist in 2023. 

In the traditional design category, first place went to Carlos David Vásquez López, with his work “The flavor of my land, a homage to traditional Oaxacan gastronomy”; second place went to Adolfo Martínez Aquino, with “Virgin of Juquila, Oaxaca and our faith” and third place went to Karla Edith López Vázquez, with her work “Oaxaca, land of the great, legacy of traditions.”

In the “anything goes” category, first place went to Oliver Mijangos Amador, for “Metamorphosis: Mystical nahuales“; second to Omar Díaz Ventura, with “Amphisbena and Pegasus” and third to Roberto Isaac Muñoz Velasco, for “The hummingbird and the Xoloitzcuintle: The messengers of Mictlán.”

#Oaxaca | Para muchos participantes, la Noche de Rábanos es más que una competencia; es una expresión de identidad y orgullo. Son felices con solo participar.

Óscar García/Quadratín pic.twitter.com/bUxsipvqtU

— Quadratín Oaxaca (@Quadratinoaxaca) December 24, 2024

Approximately 10,000 attended the event ahead of the judging.

Radish seeds are planted by Oaxaca’s municipal government in El Tequio National Park in nearby Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán at the end of September each year to be harvested on December 19 and distributed to participants free of charge. A reported 18 tonnes of the tuber were harvested in 2022. 

In addition to radishes, participants created corn husk figurines (totomoxtle) and bright dried flower (flor inmortal) displays. 

The creole radishes used for the event are inedible, therefore, after the competition, they are documented and processed to be utilized as fertilizer. 

The origin of Oaxaca’s Night of the Radishes

Radishes are native to China but were introduced to Mexico by the Spanish, who found that they grew like weeds. Legend states that friars in the mid-18th century pulled up some forgotten radishes in December and took them to the market as curiosities. 

In 1897, Oaxaca’s then-municipal president Francisco Vasconcelos established the first official radish-carving contest to celebrate the creativity of Oaxacan artisans and manage the excess crop, which has since become an annual tradition. 

Te presentamos a los ganadores de esta edición, quienes con sus extraordinarias creaciones han logrado cautivar a todos los asistentes de esta tradicional noche de Rábanos … https://t.co/lpqxhy0sTm pic.twitter.com/GPaMcnG3Fu

— Secretaría de Fomento Turístico Oaxaca de Juárez (@aoaxacavoy) December 24, 2024

Take a look at the winners of this year’s Night of the Radishes.

Judgment night 

A panel of judges picked by the Tourism Ministry, including former competition winners, such as “Lord of the Radishes” Juan Manuel García Esperanza, who won the grand prize 18 years in a row, assess aesthetics, creativity and technique to crown the winners. They also check that nothing synthetic, other than toothpicks, has been used to hold the sculptures together. 

A second edition of the Night of Radishes parade is expected to be formally announced, which in 2023 included themed floats, for more people across the city to see the impressive radish creations. 

With reports from Imparcial Oaxaca, Mexico Desconocido, Quadratín Oaxaca, Thrillist and El Universal

The post Mexico’s quirkiest Christmas tradition returns, drawing over 140 participants appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The funding is earmarked for the expansion of its Saltillo, Coahuila, manufacturing plant, located around 50 miles from the business hub of Monterrey, Nuevo León.

La Planta Ensamble Camiones ubicada en Saltillo, Coahuila de Stellantis llegó a los 5 millones de unidades ensambladas. La mejor manera de celebrarlo fue con una Ram 2500 Power Wagon. ¿Qué les parece?@StellantisMX @RAM_MX #stellantis #ram #pickups #MemoLira pic.twitter.com/hWKzggYM9f

— Memo Lira (@AutosMemoLira) August 5, 2023

“Stellantis is committed to Mexico, and we want to continue investing in the country since we have a high-quality [level] of manufacturing, we are one of the best plants of the corporation,” Carlos Quezada, CEO of Stellantis Mexico told the newspaper El Economista. “The workers have great experience, and we have everything to be very competitive,” Quezada added.

Stellantis initially announced plans to expand its Coahuila plant, where it has been making trucks since 1995, in October.

Chrysler Brand Chief Executive Officer Christine Feuell said the Mexico plant expansion is moving forward and will serve as a “relief valve” for a Stellantis truck factory in the United States that is expected to eventually reach full production capacity.

The investment will boost production at Stellantis’s Coahuila facility to nearly 1 million engines, which is leading to market speculation over the announcement of a new RAM truck model.

Stellantis is also aiming for greater production of electric vehicles (EVs) at the facility, according to Quezada. The firm also began producing EVs at its $1.6 billion Toluca plant in August.

Stellantis México’s CEO highlighted several challenges facing the company in 2025, including the likely introduction of higher US tariffs under the new presidential administration of Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, 2025.

“Starting in January, a lot will depend on the automotive industry and how the issue of tariffs … can affect the footprint of the companies that assemble and export to the United States,” explained Quezada.

In early December, Coahuila’s Governor Manolo Jiménez Salinas met in Rome with leaders from the automotive industry, including the directors of Stellantis Europe, to discuss the potential for new investment in the Mexican market.

“We strengthened ties, presented competitive advantages and talked about new initiatives from Italian suppliers that could soon arrive in Mexico,” the governor said, according to the news site ANSA Latina.

In Rome, Jiménez also met with Gianmarco Giorda, general director of the National Association of the Automotive Industry, which represents 470 companies. Giorda and other business leaders agreed to visit Mexico to promote investment and strengthen trade ties.

With reports from El Economista, ANSA Latina and MEXICONOW

The post Stellantis prepares new investments in Mexico in 2025 appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The estimates are based on results from a survey of 41 private sector specialists. While GDP growth is expected to fall in 2025, they predict it will increase to 1.8% in 2026. 

The exchange rate

The survey provided several other financial outlooks. The analysts expect to close 2024 with an exchange rate of 20.25 pesos to the United States dollar. They reduced the rate outlook for 2025, from 20.59 to 20.53 pesos, and in 2026, from 21.23 to 21.00 pesos. 

Inflation forecast

The analysts see inflation falling slightly by the end of 2024, from 4.42% to 4.37% for annual headline inflation and 3.69% to 3.6% for underlying inflation. This excludes the prices of volatile goods and services, including agricultural products, energy and government tariffs. 

In 2025, the group anticipates headline inflation will average 3.8% and underlying inflation 3.72%, and in 2026, 3.7% and 3.6%, respectively. While some improvement is expected, projected inflation remains higher than the Banxico target of 3%.

Will the business climate improve or deteriorate?

When asked about the business climate in the next six months, 77% of those surveyed expected it to “get worse,” a slight improvement on the previous response rate of 79%. Meanwhile, 13% predicted it would “stay the same” and 10% said it would “improve.”  

A slight majority — 59% of respondents — said it was a “bad time” to invest in Mexico, compared to 68% in the previous survey; 33% said they were “not sure” and 8% believed it was a “good time.” 

FDI outlook

The anticipated foreign direct investment (FDI) for 2024 was revised downwards from previous estimates, from US $37.13 billion to $36.51 billion, which would still be slightly above last year’s sum of $36.06 billion.  

The analysts highlighted several factors impeding Mexico’s economic growth over the next six months: 48% thought governance would hinder growth, 21% mentioned internal economic conditions and 18% said external conditions. 

They also emphasized public insecurity (17%), internal political uncertainty (15%), problems related to the lack of rule of law (11%) and the internal economic situation (9%).

Earlier forecast reductions

In October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its 2024 economic growth forecast for Mexico to 1.5% while projecting even slower growth in 2025, citing capacity limitations and a restrictive monetary policy. 

The World Bank also reduced its economic growth forecasts for Mexico for this year and the next two, citing uncertainty for investors among the reasons for its more pessimistic outlook. 

With reports from El Financiero, Alto Nivel and Forbes

The post Banxico survey lowers GDP growth forecast to 1.12% in 2025 appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Their approach involves planting new fir forests at temperatures where the butterfly’s preferred place to hibernate can thrive.

Between late October and early November, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate 2,500 miles from the northern United States and southern Canada to hibernate in Mexico’s fir forests.

The fir tree thrives in the humid, cold climate found along the border between Michoacán and México state, home to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. However, climate change is gradually changing the ecosystems of Mexico’s forests, putting the monarch’s habitat under threat from increasingly severe temperature changes, droughts and pests. 

“During the day, under the shade of the fir tree, the environment remains 5 degrees (Celsius) colder than outside. It is a protection against high temperatures. At night, it is the other way around, resulting in 5 degrees warmer,” Cuauhtémoc Sáenz Romero, the lead author of the study “Establishing monarch butterfly overwintering sites for future climates,” told the news site Wired. 

The density of the canopy of these trees acts as protection against winter rain. “If the temperature drops below zero and the butterflies get their wings wet, they can freeze. That is why these trees represent such a particular habitat,” Sáenz added.

According to Sáenz’s study, some climate change models suggest that the climate habitat suitable for monarchs could disappear by 2090 in the existing Monarch Reserve.  

“If at 3,000 meters, the fir trees had an average temperature of 10 degrees, now they will find that temperature at 3,300 meters. That is, the climate keeps moving upwards, but the trees cannot move [anywhere],” stated Sáenz Romero.

Assisted butterfly migration

Scientists and conservationists are now working together, alongside the Indigenous community of Calimaya, to move fir seedlings to higher and colder areas in the region to create new butterfly habitats.  

In 2017, the team chose the Nevado de Toluca volcano in Mexico state to plant the new forests, having assessed factors such as altitude, orientation, soil type and future climatic condition forecasts. 

Good news from El Rosario colony. Gradual population concentration. “They’ve kept flying all over our region since their arrival. Some are now clustering.” Remember to read our new MBF newsletter and to donate generously today – GivingTuesday: https://t.co/B1OoKqBKYt pic.twitter.com/5uw8abEBqr

— MonarchButterflyFund (@mbfmonarchs) December 3, 2024

Over the last seven years, they have transplanted seedlings from cone seeds collected from eight stands in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and planted almost 1,000 trees at four sites on the northeast slope of the volcano, at altitudes of 3,400, 3,600, 3,800 and 4,000 meters. 

The project would not have taken off without the Indigenous community involved, Sáenz stressed. “They understand that their work implies a positive effort for their forest. In addition, they have a great sense of attachment to their territory and a lot of ecological knowledge. They know where and when to collect the seeds,” explained Sáenz. 

The group must now ensure the survival of the seedlings during the first years of life, as well as consider their genetic adaptation to the new environmental conditions. The trees must be able to resist lower temperatures, stronger winds and less water availability to survive. The team aims to establish healthy trees by 2060.  

During the winter of 2023-2024, the population of monarch butterflies in typical hibernation locations was down nearly 60%, according to a report from Mexico’s National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp).  

While the monarchs have yet to migrate to the northwest slope of Nevado de Toluca, they were reported on the southwest side, which Sáenz said suggests they are searching for new places to spend the winter months.  

The monarch visitation season

The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán is a popular tourist site, attracting up to 200,000 visitors every year.  

The main visitor sites include Sierra Chincua, Senguio and El Rosario in Michoacán and Piedra Herrada, which is located just 18 miles from the lake town of Valle de Bravo in México state. 

Conanp announced the opening of the 2024 season starting Nov. 15 and ending March 31, 2025, and emphasized the importance of ecological conservation at the reserve. 

With reports from ecoPortal, Wired, CB Televisión, El Sol de Morelia and National Geographic

The post The Mexican scientists ‘moving mountains’ to help migrating monarch butterflies appeared first on Mexico News Daily

Chalacatepec is being developed using state funding and is expected to commence operations by the end of the year. It is hoped that it will boost the region’s economic development.

The state government aims to establish “a public-private partnership scheme for operation… [and] Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) is at that stage of launching that tender to find out who might be interested,” Lemus was reported saying on news site El Economista. Meanwhile, “Lagos de Moreno is an airport with private investment that requires the respective authorizations,” the governor said.

Chalacatepec is being constructed on Jalisco’s Costalegre coast. It will be Jalisco’s third international airport after Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, both of which are managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which operates 12 airports across Mexico’s Pacific coast.

The pre-existing runway has been renovated with 102 million pesos (US $5 million) of funding from the Infrastructure and Public Works Ministry. The project consists of a platform, taxiways, a 3,000-square-foot terminal building and a 500-foot connection road to the parking lot.

The Costalegre region was voted as one of the best destinations in the world to visit in 2025 by the travel magazine Travel and Leisure.

“This recognition proves that it was worth fighting these six years to make the beaches of Costalegre a gateway to world tourism through the Puerto Vallarta International Airport or what will soon be the third airport in Jalisco, Chalacatepec,” Jalisco’s former governor Enrique Alfaro wrote in a post on social media site X on Nov. 26.

Meanwhile, the Lagos de Moreno Airport, located on the border of Jalisco, Aguascalientes and Guanajuato, will enhance connectivity with Mexico’s central Bajío region. It consists of a 7,200-foot runway that can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 737.

The airport will increase the region’s cargo capacity, helping to position Jalisco as a major logistics hub. It is also expected to support nearshoring activities, enhancing access to U.S., Canadian and European markets.

The development will attract investments and generate jobs, benefiting local industries such as poultry, agro-industry and technology, the governor said, according to the news site Kiosco Informativo.

With reports from El Economista, Players of Life, Kiosco Informativo and N+

The post Jalisco prepares to inaugurate a new international airport and reactivate an old one appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The annual ranking is based on 477,287 ratings of 15,478 foods from the TasteAtlas database. 

 

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A post shared by TasteAtlas (@tasteatlas)

The annual ranking is based on 477,287 ratings of 15,478 foods from the TasteAtlas database. 

Mexico has long been recognized for its rich food culture, particularly since UNESCO designated traditional Mexican cuisine as a cultural treasure, alongside French cuisine, in 2010.  

In this year’s “Best Food” ranking, TasteAtlas named several dishes, restaurants and regions across the country as some of the best in the world. 

Best Dishes 

TasteAtlas highlighted three famous Mexican dishes according to its user ratings including:

• Cochinita pibil (ranked #12 out of 100) — a Mexican pork dish from the Yucatán region, typically marinated in annatto paste, bitter orange juice and garlic.
• Sopa de lima (#53) — a chicken and tomato-based soup that is flavored with bittersweet Yucatán citrus and spicy habanero chilis.
• Pozole (#75) — a hearty patriotic stew with hominy and pork.

Best Food Producers

Several food producers were awarded for their excellence in gourmet food and drinks. These include the spirits Mezcal Vago and Don Fulano, Oleosan (olive oil) and the cheeses Productos Lacteos La Providencia and Sierra Encantada.

Best Food Regions

The Yucatán Peninsula (#23) in the southeastern region of Mexico got 4.28 stars for 26 foods, including panuchos — a refried tortilla stuffed with refried black beans — and sopa de lima.

Puebla (#36) got 4.2 stars for 24 foods, including tacos arabes and chile relleno.

Oaxaca (#38) also got 4.2 stars for 33 foods, including several types of mole and chapulines (grasshoppers!).

The northern state of Sinaloa (#67) got 4.14 stars for six foods by TasteAtlas. In Mazatlán, you can visit high-rated restaurants such as El Mesón de Los Laureanos and Mariscos El Cuchupetas. 

Iconic Traditional Restaurants 

TasteAtlas listed some of the most iconic traditional restaurants in Mexico, including the following: 

• El Mural de los Poblanos in Puebla
• Casa Valadez in Guanajuato City
• Café de Tacuba and La Hacienda de Los Morales in Mexico City

Best Drinks

Mexico is famous for its tequila, which is a distilled alcohol that comes from the agave cactus. This year, Cierto Reserve Collection Blanco from the town of Tequila in Jalisco was given a five-star rating in TasteAtlas. 

The country has recently become well-known for its mezcal, another agave-based alcohol that has a denomination of origin in Oaxaca, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Zacatecas, San Luís Potosí, Tamaulipas, Durango and Puebla.

Other best drinks in Mexico are Uciri organic coffee from Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, and Cielo Dentro Chocolate Balam from Morelos, just south of Mexico City.

TasteAtlas is an experiential travel online guide for traditional food. It has cataloged and mapped over 10,000 foods and drinks around the globe. 

With reports from NPR

The post Mexico earns top spot in global food encyclopedia’s 2024 ranking appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The prize-winning cities were selected by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), based on recommendations from an independent jury of international experts.

BREAKING

10 cities have been awarded the @UNESCO Learning City Award 2024 for excellence in lifelong learning:

Benguerir, Bouaké, Cork, Cuenca, Doha, Eunpyeong-gu, Glasgow, Querétaro, Wuhan & Yanbu Industrial City. Congratulations!https://t.co/pj2dkzv5M7 pic.twitter.com/SdtFEs2ReS

— UNESCO #Education #Sciences #Culture (@UNESCO) December 4, 2024

“Thank you, UNESCO, for the award and for recognizing the municipality as a city of governance, good practices … where [there are] programs that promote inclusion, and work is done to improve the quality of life of families,” Querétaro’s Municipal President Felipe Fernando Macías wrote on the social media site X. 

The UNESCO Learning City Award was established in 2015 to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities.

“Cities are home to more than half of the world’s population and must be at the forefront of societal change,” said the Director of the UIL Isabell Kempf. “The 2024 UNESCO Learning City Awardees demonstrate the power of lifelong learning to enable citizens to adapt, innovate and collaborate on solutions to our planet’s most pressing challenges. Their commitment to inclusivity and to sustainable development offers a path to a more just and prosperous future for all.”  

Querétaro, located around two hours northwest of Mexico City, has transformed into a dynamic hub of lifelong learning since becoming a UNESCO learning city in 2019. 

¡Querétaro, Ciudad del Aprendizaje 2024!

Gracias @UNESCO por el galardón y reconocer al municipio como una ciudad de gobernanza, buenas prácticas, donde se fomenta la convivencia armónica, programas que impulsan la inlcuisión y se trabaja para mejorar la calidad de vida de las… pic.twitter.com/Gjz4Pzm6lM

— Felipe Fernando Macías (@FeliFerMacias) December 9, 2024

According to UNESCO, the city has implemented 40 projects, including 28 public programs adapted to lifelong learning principles, reaching over 1.7 million participants by 2023. 

Notable achievements include the creation of five community gardens maintained by over 300 residents, the establishment of cultural spaces like La Vía Centre for Artistic Training and Hercules Cultural Space and the implementation of technology training at the BLOQUE centre1.

Querétaro has also demonstrated a strong commitment to workforce development, particularly in response to the growing opportunities presented by nearshoring.

In October, Japanese machine tool giant Makino broke ground on a new technology innovation center in Querétaro, citing the city’s infrastructure, education and highly qualified workforce as critical factors in its decision to invest in the region.

Mexico News Daily

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“Our goal is to make houses that are not just structures but adaptable homes where the architecture enables the empowerment of the inhabitants to break the cycle of poverty in Acapulco,” Manuel Cervantes told AR.

 

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A post shared by Manuel Cervantes Estudio (@manuelcervantesestudio)

Acapulco suffered widespread damage during Hurricane Otis, one of the worst storms to ever hit Mexico’s Pacific coast, in October 2023. The storm damaged 80% of the resort city’s hotels and 95% of its businesses, and killed at least 52 people.

Cervantes’s studio designed the new houses to be built using prefabricated Covintec panels — wire mesh frames filled with Styrofoam and coated with concrete. Each house is designed to operate without air conditioning, while timber screens and concrete latticework allow air and light through.  

As part of an initiative known as Kon-tigo, meaning “with you” in Spanish, the studio has completed 42 houses and is working to finish 78 more, with funding from various private donors through the non‑profit organizations Asociación Gilberto and Construyendo. The houses vary in size, from 376 to 807 square feet, and cost an average of US $18,000 each to build.

The structures withstood flooding during Acapulco’s tropical storm season in September and October, including Hurricane John. 

Cervantes aims to build long-term housing for those affected by Hurricane Otis, inspired by the Cartilla de la Vivienda (Housing Primer), published by the National College of Architects of Mexico and the Society of Mexican Architects in 1954. The original project created a construction manual to help those working in the informal labor market who did not have access to state-built housing. 

He also takes inspiration from a 1954 article in Arquitectura México written by the Mexican architect Enrique del Moral, in which del Moral stressed the importance of using open floor plans that facilitate cross ventilation and avoiding excessive use of glass and metal, according to AR. 

The impact of hurricanes on Acapulco

While still recovering from the effects of Otis, Acapulco suffered extreme flooding and mudslides during Hurricane John in September, which killed at least 29 people.  

In October, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced an 8-billion-peso (US $400 million) reconstruction package for Acapulco and Oaxaca in October in response to the destruction caused by John.   

The Mexican government also recently announced plans to construct one million new homes countrywide over the next six years with an investment of 600 billion pesos ($29.7 billion) under its Housing and Regularization Program. 

With reports from The Architectural Review, El Sol de Acapulco and El País

The post Architectural Review awards post-hurricane housing design in Acapulco appeared first on Mexico News Daily