IVA tax refunds increase, Ingapirca museum, New city buses negotiations, 12 de Abril market remodel

Viernes, 5/1/2018

Hello everyone –

Cultural Page –

Upcoming agenda events –

Concierto – There will be a jazz vocal and word music concert by Urpi Barco on el próximo jueves, 11/1 a las 20:00 in the auditorio del Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano Abraham Lincoln. Cost: $5:00 presales and $7.00 on the day of the event.

CCE – The deadline for writers to apply to be published by the CCE in 2018 is 15/1 a las 16:30.

Concierto – Spanish singer Mikel Erentxun will perform in Cuenca for the first time el jueves, 22/1 a las 20:00 in the teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz.

Articles about –

Ingapirca – The reopening of the Museo de Sitio de Ingapirca (Ingapirca Site Museum) is part of a project to invest in and preserve archeological sites in Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago. The opening date is set for the first quarter of the year. <We’ll see if museum administrators can do a better job with projects than transportation managers.>

Journalism – Students in their 3d cycle of “Comunicación Social” at the U. Catolica are preparing a tribute two 2 journalists el 9/1 at 19:30 in the Auditorio de la Unidad Académica de Ciencias Sociales. They will also present the 5th edition of the periódico “Comunícate.”

Ad – The U. of Azuay is calling for candidates to teach in the schools of journalism, special education, tourism, and business administration. Salary will be prorated on the number of hours assigned and based on a full time salary of $2,290.

Otras cosas –

Titular – Mañana elegirán a la nueva Vicepresidente (New Vice President to be chosen tomorrow) – See Friday’s CHL article for the story.

Resignation – Guillaume Long, Ecuador’s representative to the UN, resigned yesterday in a letter to Pres. Moreno that was critical of the current administration and its turn away from Correismo.

New labor policies – The government announced a new labor policy for decreasing unemployment through a public/private partnership. The “Contrato Juvenil” (Youth Contract) seeks to generate 60,000 jobs for youth aged 18-26 by 2021 <Hmm, an election year, or is that my cynicism showing?). The gov’t would pay 50% of the salaries and the employers portion of social security at a cost of $180 million. “Mi Primer Empleo” (My First Job) would provide 1,420 paid government and 22,000 private internships each year with the gov’t paying 50% of the stipend and the social security.

Salasaca – This indigenous town in Pelileo canton <where you can buy jeans on your way to Baños-Ambato> in Tungurahua Province was declared a national Intangible Cultural Heritage yesterday.

BIESS – The Banco del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social reopened its newly remodeled offices last night and launched a “préstamo prendario” loan program which is open to the public. Loans are generally up to $1,500, but can go as high as $30,000 depending on the value of your jewelry used as security. Loans have a maximum term of 180 days with a 16% annual interest rate. <Sounds kind of like a pawn shop which seems a weird business for a government bank to be in.>

Mercado 12 de Abril – The remodeling of the market is expected to be completed in julio. The underground parking lot is 98% complete, and the structure for a multi-use building (Child Care Center, Medisol and community space for the ciudadela Urubamba) is up. There will be some more shuffling around of the merchants in the next week or so to complete various other parts of the project including new floors and vendors’s stalls, and sanitation.

Buses – The meeting between the Cámara de Transporte (CTC) and the city administration and council committee for determining the technology to replace the bus fleet, ended in two opposing positions. The city wants no change to the requirement that Euro 5 buses be used as part of the earlier agreement to raise bus fares to 31¢. The time frame for replacing the buses was 21 months, after which the fare could increase to 34¢. 20 Euro 5 buses generate the same pollution as five Euro 3 buses. <And if the 475 bus fleet were all Euro 5, they’d generate as much pollution as the current buses running on just line 100? Or something like that. For those of you who are a little slow witted right now, that was an invented “statistic.”> The U. of Azuay is doing a study to analyze whether the local diesel is or is not compatable with the Euro 5 buses. The study will take at least 6 months and cost $120,000. I hope it takes that long because they’re going to field test a bus or two.>

The pres. of the CTC proposed starting the replacement of the fleet with Euro 3 buses on the assumption that the diesel available is not compatible with the Euro 5 buses. Later, when better quality diesel is available, bus owners would start buying Euro 5 buses. He asked for implementation of the new 31¢ fare for necessary resourses.

El Cajas and Quimsacocha – The Environmental Ministere gave Mayor Cabrera 10 year management plans for the Parque Nacional Cajas and Quimascocha. <I think ETAPA will still manage the protected areas.> A new fire station will be built in the Illincocha sector to serve the park and neighbors such as Molleturo.

Refunds – Refunds of IVA taxes will increase in the coming weeks. You can ask for refunds on line. Start at an office for a password and then go to www.sri.gob.ec. and follow the instructions. <See the flow chart on the Empresarial page.> The maximum for personal deductions against income for this year is $3,662.75 up to 50% of your total income. Deductions are for food, education, housing, clothing, and health costs. For IVA refunds, the maximum monthly refund will be $92.64, starting this month. The IVA refund is for necessities for personal use (no commercial uses) and includes housing, health, clothing, food, education, communication, culture, sport, transportation and mobility. < I wonder if you can claim your daily twelve pack of Pilsener as necessary for your mental health?>

Amenidades –

Movies – as usual, go to www.multicines.com.ec for show times and locations. All movies this week are en Esp. The following movies open this week.

3D & 2D Coco
2D Se oculta en la oscuridad

The following movies are continuing. These are all in 2D

Jumanji en la selva
El gran showman
El implacable
Extraordinario
Siempre estarás conmigo
Star wars últimos jedi

Agenda item –

“Tributo HIts” Party – This double show will feature a band and a DJ and minors are allowed starting at 18:30, mañana in the República Sur (Pres. Córdova 5-55 between Mariano Cueva y Hermano Miguel). The main show starts at 22:00. Cover cost: $3.00.

Discuentos y compras –

RM – Up to 50% off sale “en TODA la tienda.”

And that´s all for today so Hasta Domingo –

Jeanne