Citizens to Oversee Playa del Carmen FARO Center Build

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — A Citizens' Oversight Committee has been formally installed to monitor the construction of the FARO cultural center facilities in Playa del Carmen. The project will be built in the fifth section of the Villas del Sol subdivision, next to the Aguakan utility installations.

The committee was integrated with Miguel Ángel Ochoa Rodríguez as president; Consuelo Flores Toro, secretary; Israel Uribe Novlado, treasurer; Nadya Luisa Hernández Castañeda, oversight and vigilance vocal; Carmelita Cruz Sánchez, first vocal; Alejandro Guadalupe Munguía Serrano, second vocal; Arminanto Vamileth Hernández, third vocal; Gabriela Rodríguez Gómez, fourth vocal; and Óscar Iván Uc Calderón, fifth vocal.

A Commitment to Transparency and Community Involvement

The formation of this citizen body aims to guarantee that the construction work is carried out under principles of transparency and social participation. It will supervise the correct application of resources destined for the FARO's construction and ensure that deadlines and stated objectives are met.

Personnel from the state Secretary of Public Works and the Anti-Corruption Office were present during the installation. They highlighted the importance of involving citizens in the oversight of social infrastructure projects. The initiative intends for the community to play an active role in accountability and the prevention of potential irregularities.

A Center for Social Cohesion and Cultural Activities

Sofía Ochoa, director of FARO, explained that the project's objective is to strengthen the social fabric through cultural and community activities. She noted that since 2024, the "FARO del Bienestar" program has already been implemented in Playa del Carmen in its modality of strengthening community cultural agents. This has been done through workshops in film, dance, and various artistic expressions held in improvised spaces within Villas del Sol.

Ochoa stated that having a physical space will allow for the multiplication of these activities and attract a greater number of beneficiaries, especially in a neighborhood that has been noted for its high crime rates.

"With this cultural and community center, we will be able to offer better conditions for artistic training, promote social cohesion, and contribute to the construction of peace in Villas del Sol," she affirmed.

Committee members agreed that their participation represents a commitment to the community to ensure the project develops appropriately. They also emphasized that this effort is an example of how citizens can become directly involved in supervising projects that seek collective well-being. Authorities and residents concurred that the center will be a key point for the prevention of violence and social cohesion in the area.

A Future Community Hub

The new FARO is poised to become the base point for cultural and social activities in Playa del Carmen, with the potential to replicate similar programs in other neighborhoods in the future. The center is expected to function as a community meeting space that promotes a culture of peace and a sense of identity in a city characterized by its diversity and transient population.

With the installation of the Citizens' Oversight Committee, the accompaniment of state authorities, and the participation of the community, the construction process for a space intended to be a benchmark for violence prevention and cultural promotion in Playa del Carmen formally begins. The project is currently in the bidding process.