municipio

The patrol car was transferred on May 19. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- A patrol unit was given on loan to the Government of Chapala by the residents of La Floresta. They were responsible for acquiring the vehicle for the use and care of the subdivision and nearby areas.

The car is labeled with the logos of the municipal police and the subdivision. The neighborhood association president, Fernando Plata, said that the car cost more than 400 thousand pesos (about US$20,000). The car was paid for by residents of La Floresta.

The moment when the neighborhood association president, Fernando Plata, handed the key to the municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Plata also pointed out that the municipal government provides the officers who will carry out the patrol work in the area and the surrounding streets. In case of emergencies, the car can be used in other parts of the municipality.

During the meeting held on May 19, Fernando Plata spoke with the municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, about upcoming projects to improve the flow of traffic on the highway and pedestrian circulation in the area.

The formal handover ceremony, which took place at the La Floresta sculpture on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, was also attended by  acting Ajijic delegate Maximiano Macias Arceo,  Sergio Conzuelo Ramirez, commander of the municipal police, and members of the board of directors of the subdivision.

Bernabé Robledo, currently in charge of CETAC Ajijic. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- For almost 30 years, Professor Bernabé Robledo has not only been in charge of educating young people in the classroom but also teaching them to be empathetic citizens,  while being an activist for the land he lives on.

Bernabé was born in Ajijic. He is the son of farmers and attended basic education in the delegation, until high school, when he studied at the Center for Technological Studies in Continental Waters (CETAC 01) in Jocotepec. Later, he studied food engineering at the Mazatlán Technology, Sinaloa. He also earned a master’s degree from Ocotlán and a doctorate in Education.

After working in an industrial food production company, in 1996 he decided to become a teacher; his first position as a professor was at the Center for Technological Studies of the Sea (CETMAR) in Mazatlán. 

In 1996 he joined the CETAC Jocotepec, then he became one of the first members of the Mario Molina Institute which studies sustainability,  as well as having been a professor at the National College of Technical Professional Education (CONALEP)  in Chapala.

 One of his achievements which he speaks of as a father would speak of his prodigal child, is the CETAC Ajijic, an extension of the Jocotepec campus, which Robledo managed. He went to great lengths to acquire the property and to request donations to repair the school that was abandoned for at least 15 years, and has been working since 2019, and in his words, has been “shaped to meet the needs of the people of Ajijic.”

Bernabé presenting a request for help to Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

«There are many private schools in Ajijic, but none that are public that meet the vocational needs of the region. Ajijic is a town that has approximately 12,000  citizens, and has a tourist economy, which  is why we thought training in businesses related to  the settlement of foreigners and tourists is a perfect fit,» commented the professor.

In addition to continuing with the improvement of the campus, which he said could have the potential to be one of the most beautiful schools in Lakeside, one of his most important goals is to secure the campus in the campus where it is located, which was loaned to it  by the 2018-2021 administration. He also spoke of the exponential growth that has taken place since the beginning, with 115 students and its first generation about to graduate.

Bernabé Robledo commented that his taste for teaching at the high school level arose for several reasons, one of them being how his life  has been coupled to the needs that young people have at this age and that makes it easier for him to communicate with them, and to the nobility he finds in this age range.

«At this age, you are finishing shaping the citizens about to be sent to society. I have found satisfaction, especially in their nobility. For example, when we were fixing up the CETAC playground, one of the laziest youngsters helped and put all his effort into handling the concrete mixing  equipment. He gave and gave, until when he finished, he fell exhausted to the ground. He was a 16 or 17 year old kid who decided to help, and thanks to him, as well as to the other youngsters, CETAC has made progress,” he said.

Professor Berna, as he is also known, not only says he is committed to education, but also to activism, which he has engaged in on multiple occasions with his students. 

«I am a great admirer of Paulo Freire, educator of America, and I agree with his philosophy that the teacher by himself is already a social transformer. I don’t find any conflict between activism and teaching, I can’t conceive of one without the other. I get tired, but I don’t get angry, I don’t work for a salary, but for an ideal. If you don’t feel that way, it may not be your vocation,» he said firmly.

On the other hand, he has always advised his students to pursue cultural activities, since, his vision is that he seeks young people to realize culture and empathy, that they feel proud and love these teachings, adding that «we are rich in culture, we do not have to envy any other culture.»

Finally, he dedicated a few words to the future teachers: in this profession they are not going to get rich so it is something they must love, since it is a social work owed to the community.

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

Citizens denounce the lack of maintenance of public lighting by the CFE. Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).- The rainy season has started and with it the power blackouts throughout the municipality of Jocotepec. On May 15, through a communiqué shared on official networks, the Jocotepec City Hall alerted citizens about the season of power outages due to weather conditions.

Since the rainy season officially began, the government announced that the season of “las caídas de cuchillas” [«blades dropping»] is coming, which is when fuses are set to protect the transformer from power surges.

Therefore, the community was urged to remain alert about drinking water pumping equipment in the houses and to close faucets, especially at night. This measure will avoid the waste of water that has been observed in the last few days when the electric power goes off.

However, drinking water has not been the only problem for some residents of the community. Since the winds began, neighbors in the neighborhood of La Purísima, north of town and Nextipac, have already reported problems.

«The first few days we had between 15 and 20 blackouts in an hour and since yesterday, with any wind, it goes out and it takes longer and longer to return,» said one of the neighbors.

Although this situation has been blamed on weather   and the neighbors consider this to be a possible cause for the blackouts, the fact that «any little breeze» deprives them of service and denotes a lack of maintenance on the part of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).

They also added that they have never seen CFE provide adequate maintenance to the light poles and are concerned since «we are just starting the rainy season and we are already struggling like this.»

Translated by MaryAnne Marble

This is how the new speed bumps look that are installed on El Molino Road. Photo: JocoPiolin Official.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía (Jocotepec).-  Accidents on the El Molino Road stretch have decreased after the installation of speed bumps.

On February 13, a heavy vehicle overturned on this stretch, spilling 300 liters of ethanol and causing the road closure for more than 24 hours. As of May 19, no more accidents have been recorded.

A little more than a month after the last accident, the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT) installed a series of speed bumps on the stretch known as “La Engorda” on the Guadalajara-Morelia highway.

According to María Dolores “Lolis” López Jara, the local deputy for district 17 who managed the project to prevent traffic accidents, these bumps are only a “temporary measure” while a long-term one is being developed.

Lopez Jara said they are still working to install some kind of signage or indicators, “because they can take you by surprise and reduce your speed all of a sudden.”

Although the congresswoman said there has been no record of another accident, largely due to the temporary solution, some drivers have been taken by surprise.

Rodrigo, who regularly travels this stretch of road, said the new speed bumps surprised him. “They are a bit dangerous and you can’t see them. I hadn’t been this way for a while and I was caught by surprise,” he commented.

The measure was undertaken by the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) after the high accident rates on this stretch of road. In a period of less than one year, more than 89 accidents were registered in which 19 people lost their lives.

Translated by Mary Woods

El intento de extorsión se registró en un comercio de la calle Hidalgo, de Riberas del Pilar, . Foto: Fiscalía. 

Redacción.- Se registró un nuevo intento de extorsión en el municipio de Chapala, ahora en Riberas del Pilar, donde oficiales de la Secretaría de Seguridad del Estado (SSE) atendieron y frustraron el ilícito. 

Según el reporte de la SSE emitido el 20 de mayo, fue durante un recorrido de vigilancia por la calle Hidalgo, los oficiales estatales fueron interceptados por un hombre, quien les informó que estaba recibiendo llamadas desde un número desconocido en el cual le pedían dinero a cambio de liberar a un empleado al que supuestamente tenían secuestrado.

El joven que supuestamente había sido secuestrado, fue encontrado sano y salvo cerca de un hotel. Foto: Fiscalía.

Los policías brindaron acompañamiento a la víctima y tras recomendarle evitar hacer cualquier pago y seguir proporcionando información a los supuestos secuestradores, procedieron a realizar la búsqueda del empleado, el cual fue encontrado cerca de un hotel, confirmando que estaba en buen estado de salud.

Derivado del hecho se solicitó mando y conducción al agente del Ministerio Público de la Fiscalía del Estado, quien ordenó la elaboración de los informes policiales correspondientes.

Imagen del camión siniestrado, en el lugar del accidente. Foto: Cortesía.

Redacción.- Al menos 14 personas perdieron la vida y 19 más resultaron heridas luego del choque de un camión de pasajeros que transportaba trabajadores de una empresa productora de berries, cuando se quedó sin frenos y se impactó contra un paredón lateral sobre la carretera Tuxcueca – Citala.

El percance que se registró durante la tarde noche del 18 de mayo donde perdieron la vida nueve hombres y cinco mujeres, mientras que otras seis mujeres y 13 hombres resultaron heridos y fueron trasladados a los Servicios Médicos Municipales y Hospital Comunitario de Jocotepec para su atención médica.   

Durante el operativo de apoyo, participaron elementos de Seguridad de la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional; elementos de Seguridad Pública de Tuxcueca y la Policía del Estado.

Así como del Instituto Jalisciense de Ciencias Forenses (Delegación Ocotlán); Servicios Médicos de Jocotepec; Bomberos Tuxcueca; así como elementos de Protección Civil de la comandancia de Mazamitla, Chapala y Jocotepec además de la Policía Vial, Policía Investigadora (Agencia de Tizapán el Alto) y Protección Civil del Estado.

El cambio distrital se debe a la disminución de población en la ZMG y el crecimiento en municipios del interior de Jalisco. Foto: Cortesía. 

Redacción.- La proyección del nuevo mapa distrital que propone el Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE) para la región del Lago de Chapala para este 2022 contempla la división de los municipios ribereños que quedarían en los distritos dos, cuatro y ocho.

Chapala se ubicaría en el distrito dos junto a Jocotepec, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Poncitlán, Ocotlán, Zacoalco de Torres, Acatlán de Juárez y Villa Corona.

En el distrito cuatro estaría integrado por las entidades de Jamay, La Barca, Degollado, Atotonilco el Alto, Ayotlán, Jesús María, San Diego de Alejandría, San Julián, San Miguel el Alto, Jalostotitlán y Arandas.

Mientras que el distrito ocho quedaría conformado por Tototlán, Zapotlán del Rey, Tepatitlán, Ixtlahuacán del Río, Zapotlanejo, Acatic, Yahualica de González Gallo, Mexticacán, Valle de Guadalupe, San Ignacio Cerro Gordo y Juanacatlán.

Aun con estos cambios Jalisco se mantendría con 20 distritos estatales y federales, el proyecto para la nueva conformación de los distritos, se entregaron a los partidos políticos acreditados en las Comisiones de Vigilancia y los Institutos Electorales locales para que realicen su análisis y presenten observaciones para luego someterlo a la consideración del Consejo General del INE. 

El proyecto para la nueva conformación de los distritos electorales se realiza debido a la disminución de la población en distritos del Área Metropolitana de Guadalajara (AMG) y el crecimiento de municipios como Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.

El proyecto inició en el 2021 y concluirá en el 2023 previo al periodo electoral 2023 – 2024.

Letras monumentales en el malecón de Jocotepec. Foto: Archivo.

Redacción.- El ayuntamiento de Jocotepec aprobó la realización de los talleres “Isocare”, organización enfocada en la urbanización. Dentro de diferentes áreas del municipio se pretende hacer un ordenamiento territorial, en el cual el Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco trabaja.

El taller abordará temas de movilidad, habitacional, inversión hotelera, restaurantes y de turismo, que podrían beneficiar a los alcaldes de Chapala, Tuxcueca y Tizapán, según lo expuesto el jueves 12 de mayo, en la décima sesión ordinaria de cabildo. 

El alcalde, José Miguel Gómez López explicó, que ésta organización puede crear una infraestructura de alta calidad para Jocotepec y municipios cercanos.

“¿Qué nos van a decir?; cuáles son las sugerencias en temas de movilidad, habitacional, inversión hotelera, restaurantes y tema de turismo. Te dan siete puntos donde platica con los presidentes de Chapala, Tuxcueca y Tizapán para reunirnos con las personas adecuadas”.

Dentro de este proyecto se pretende invertir cien mil pesos entre todos los municipios con la finalidad de crear un equilibrio entre estos, donde el gobierno de Jocotepec brindará una seguridad a la población en la que no se afecte su naturaleza y espacios ecológicos.

Gómez López mencionó que dentro de esta organización realizan estudios de medio ambiente con la finalidad de frenar los desarrollos que afectan a dicho sector en el municipio. 

“En el taller lo que nos van a decir es que en estas zonas pueden generar desarrollos de este tipo de esta densidad y se requiere ampliar este tipo de carreteras. Te hacen un estudio completo de la urbanización que se puede hacer sustentable con el taller y el dictamen nosotros podemos generar los planes parciales a la medida de cada espacio”, detalló el edil.

The fire was visible from various points in Chapala and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. Photo: Mario Negrete Photography.

Laguna Staff (Chapala).-  The hills located behind the Brisas Chapala subdivision, on the border with Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, were affected by the fire that started during the morning of Saturday, May 7, damaging 67 hectares of forest area.

Around 11:00 a.m. the first reports were received when a large column of smoke was observed in Chapala and visible in Ajijic. Shortly afterward, the smoke could be seen from the municipality of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. 

Aerial view of the affected area. Photo: Government of Chapala.

The flames quickly spread, when members of the Civil Protection and Firefighters of Chapala arrived in the area. They asked for reinforcements from other municipalities to fight the magnitude of the fire. Soon a tanker helicopter from the municipality of Tlajomulco arrived to help. 

After hours of work, the fire was extinguished with 58 firefighters participating in the arduous work. 

Although most of the burned area was leaf litter, the fauna was affected and forced to move away from the affected area. Before the fire started, some suspicious trucks could be seen from the road near the starting point.  

Translated by Mary Woods

61-year-old, María Quiroz Rameño is an unstoppable woman. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Alma Serrana (San Juan Cosala).-  Maybe you didn’t have the childhood or adolescence you would have wished.  Life is never as we thought it would be, no matter how much we plan it. From the country to the city, that’s how your life has been, with many inevitable changes and realities that have made you wake up.

Your 61 years have shown you how capable you are.   Limits are nothing more than the experiences of others who have not dared to go, out of fear, where you knew you could go. Your determination makes you powerful and you always do the best you can, even if at the time you didn’t know how. 

Being a mother has made you see, go, look beyond, be invincible and give it your all. For your children you took off the blindfold, to see that the world is not a loom that you can hold. Sometimes you had to weave your own way, with the fabric of your hands.

You were, are, and will be a daughter, a wife, a mother of four children who had to live in a hurry «with shots and pulls.» Being a mother has led you to be, even when you were widowed, bigger than before, stronger, more you. You never gave up.  Nothing stops you. 

Since you were a child, you had the desire to break everything you came across. You have learned that this unquestionable attitude only exists in extraordinary people.

Thanks to your innate, relentless will you have managed to achieve what only the brave, those who remain standing, can achieve.

You may not notice everything you have achieved because circumstances have not allowed you the time to contemplate.  You have known what to do in the face of adversity, defending yourself from everything, you never lost faith. How courageous you have been. 

There is no doubt that it is not necessary to be a mother for us to honor your life like that of millions of mothers.  Undoubtedly being a mother has made you an impeccable human being at heart. I know that life has not been perfect neither with you nor with anyone else, but life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful.

Translated by Nita Rudy