VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0394 1202105
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 292105Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3187
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0905
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5554
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR BRASILIA 0287
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3978
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3416
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1716
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1849

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL CI
SUBJECT: SANTIAGO'S REGIONAL LEADERS DISCUSS METROPOLITAN CHALLENGES 
WITH AMBASSADOR SIMONS 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: In meetings with the Ambassador on April 2 and 3, 
respectively, the Mayor of Santiago listed public education as the 
biggest priority for his municipality, while the Intendant of the 
Metropolitan Region focused on public transportation (Transantiago), 
traffic congestion and public security as primary challenges.  End 
summary. 
 
A Low-profile Mayor Focuses on Education 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Ambassador Simons accompanied by EPOL Counselor and EPOL 
Specialist called April 2 on the Mayor of Santiago Raul Alcaino, who 
has held office since 2004.  Mayor Alcaino is not running for 
re-election.  Alcaino has kept a low profile as Mayor, focusing 
mainly on resolving the traditional problems of the municipality, 
adopting the role of "efficient executive" rather than "charismatic 
politician."  His main concern is education and the proper 
allocation of resources for public education.  Alcaino is focused on 
using culture and recreation to bolster education's attractiveness 
to youth.  The basic idea has been to foster among students a sense 
of belonging to their schools and neighborhoods.  His goal is to 
provide children with a "dream worth fighting for".  Alcaino wants 
students to learn that they can "be more" when they receive their 
education.  Public education in Chile lacks sufficient resources and 
has long been ignored; the sector needs a modernization plan that 
involves both the Ministry of Education and the municipal schools' 
administrative boards. 
 
¶3.  (U) Ambassador asked Alcaino his opinion on the polarization of 
Chilean politics.  Alcaino noted he was of the opposition coalition, 
but that he has maintained a very good relationship with the central 
government and has no doubt as to the technical and political 
capabilities of the current administration.  However he criticized 
politics in Chile as "stuck 30 years in the past."  Politicians do 
not look to the future.  There is a tendency to polarize 
discussions, especially those that are value-based.  Currently the 
parties in the center are vulnerable to this polarization.  The 
Christian Democrats and National Renewal are key hinges in their 
respective coalitions, but they are susceptible to these forces 
which escalate the possibility of political divisiveness. 
 
Recently Appointed Metropolitan Leader faces Transantiago 
--------------------------  ----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Ambassador Simons called on Metropolitan Region (RM) 
Intendant Alvaro Erazo on April 3.  A medical doctor, Erazo, was 
recently appointed Intendant of the most populous region of the 
country by President Bachelet in a cabinet shuffle in January.  As 
Intendant, he heads the Metropolitan Regional Government, made up of 
6 provinces that incorporate 52 municipalities (including the 
Municipality of Santiago).  Until now, Erazo's public experience had 
been mostly in the health sector.  Ambassador Simons was accompanied 
by E/POL Counselor and E/POL Specialist. 
 
¶5.  (U) Erazo listed the main challenges for his region as those of 
any metropolis: public transportation; roadway infrastructure and 
traffic congestion; and public security.  In addition, because the 
RM encompasses 18 rural municipalities, the recent drought affecting 
southern and central Chile poses a serious challenge for the region 
this year.  He also mentioned Santiago's air pollution problem and 
the related fallout from the disastrous implementation of the 
Transantiago metropolitan transit plan.  He stated that, without a 
fully-functioning Transantiago that can attract individual drivers 
away from their cars, it will be very difficult to make any 
improvements in the RM air quality.  The RM currently has 50 
stations for checking car and truck emissions and improved norms and 
regulations are being planned. 
 
¶6.  (U) When asked further about Transantiago, Erazo explained that 
the public transit system is improving but that there is still much 
to be done.  He noted that, while travel times are still longer for 
some, the new system is less expensive and safer than the previous 
bus system.  Two of the most critical components that are lacking 
are items from the original Transantiago design that have not been 
implemented yet, including exclusive bus lanes and the fleet 
management software that should allow for better service intervals 
and lowered rates of fare evasion.  In addition, in order to 
maintain a fleet of buses that are "cleaner" -- Erazo stated that 
60% of the current fleet of 6,400 buses use clean but not 
"super-clean" technology -- they need to install newer, and more 
expensive, filters. 
SIMONS