Free internet and construction of rural houses announced by the Federal Govt for Maranhão, Brazil
President Jair Bolsonaro and delegation were in the city of Imperatriz (MA) this Thursday (29)
Minister of Communications, Fábio Faria, during the Federal Government's delivery ceremony. - Photo: Alan Santos / PR
Nov 2, Brasilia: About three thousand people living in remote areas of Imperatriz, Balsas and Açailândia now have access to free and unlimited internet. The announcement was made on Thursday (29) and is part of a set of actions by the Federal Government for the population of Maranhão released by President Jair Bolsonaro and ministers during an event in Imperatriz.
It was also announced the resumption of the construction of 218 rural houses that were paralyzed in the state and the beginning of the elaboration of the project of the Balsas Regional Airport. And hand out agricultural patrols to farmers' associations.
Free Internet
In Imperatriz, the internet point, which is part of the Wi-Fi na Praça program, of the Ministry of Communications, is in a municipal school in the village known as “KM 1700”.
In addition to supporting the work of teachers and assisting students in their studies, anyone within 200 meters of the installed antenna can count on the unlimited internet, 20 megs, on their cell phones or computers. This is also the case for a public school in the municipality of Balsas.
“Here very close, in the town 1700, starting today, there will be free internet for the people. In Balsas, as of today, there is also Wi-Fi in the square. Here [in Imperatriz] it will be at Escola Afonso Pena where teachers and students will be able to go within a radius of 200 meters. This Telebras antenna was installed, ”said Communications Minister Fábio Faria. “Here in Maranhão, there are already 1,300 internet points for the poor to have free access”, he added.
The purpose of Wi-Fi in the Square is to allow free internet access to regions with low connectivity through the installation of antennas.
In Açailândia, the signal is available and will be installed in a public establishment indicated by the municipality. The connection is part of the Electronic Government - Citizenship Service (GESAC) project, which offers 10 mega speed internet.
Throughout Maranhão, there are already 1,297 satellite connection antennas, according to the Ministry of Communications. Most of the antennas, 88%, are located in public schools and the rest cover public health and safety units, indigenous villages and community spaces for digital inclusion.
Houses
The 218 housing units that will have construction resumed by the Ministry of Regional Development will benefit more than 870 people. They are located in Setubinha (39 units), Maranhãozinho (49), São Luis (80) and Bacabal (50).
Airport
During the event, the Minister of Regional Development, Rogério Marinho, signed the service order that authorizes the preparation of the studies and the project for the Balsas Regional Airport. The federal investment will be R $ 1.7 million, through the São Francisco and Parnaíba Valleys Development Company (Codevasf).
Under the project, the airport will have a passenger terminal, fire section, aircraft parking lot and taxiway. Environmental studies and engineering design are also planned. The deadline for preparing the document is 15 months.
Agricultural Patrols
Two agricultural patrols were handed over to rural workers' associations, an investment of R $ 230 thousand through Codevasf. The machines went to the Rural Workers' Associations Feiranovense Monte das Oliveiras, in Feira Nova do Maranhão, and to Rural Producers in Family Farming in the Riacho do Mato e Região Community, in the municipality of Balsas.