“Secrets Revealed: How Federal Funds Are Managed in Quintana Roo”

Federal funds designated for the Trust for Strengthening Tourism Activity in Quintana Roo (Foatqroo) are to be used strictly for the upkeep and operation of public, hydraulic, and sanitary services in the hotel areas of Cancun and Cozumel. The funds cannot be used for any other purposes.

The "Specific Coordination Agreement on Resource Reallocation" between the National Tourism Development Fund (Fonatur), the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and the Quintana Roo Strategic Project Agency mandates that the funds will be deposited into a dedicated bank account. The agreement, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, specifies that 155 million 731 thousand 153.64 will be provided by Fonatur. These funds must be accounted for as either current or capital expenditure and will be subject to federal audit.

The agreement also stipulates that the funds should not be committed to projects that exceed the financial capacity of the parties involved. Any projects undertaken must have the necessary authorizations or permits, and technical advice may be sought if needed.

The Quintana Roo entity is required to register the federal funds in its accounting and public finance reports, and present these to the local Congress. Oversight, monitoring, and evaluation of the resources will be undertaken by Fonatur, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, the Ministry of Public Function, and the Quintana Roo control body.

The aim of the agreement is to boost the productivity and competitiveness of tourist destinations through their conservation and maintenance. The goals include ensuring the continuity of infrastructure, the provision of public services, the operation of storm drainage, and the sanitation and treatment of wastewater from the Comprehensive Planned Center Cancun and the Comprehensive Tourist Project of Cozumel.

Details of the planned actions and their schedule of execution are outlined in an annex called "Descriptive Memories". Updates on the expenditure must be provided within the first 10 days of each month by the Strategic Projects Agency. Other performance indicators, including monthly reports on physical progress and budgetary resources, will also be required. Every three months, progress towards objectives, performance, and goals must be reported and followed up.

Fonatur will publish online the projects funded with the transferred resources, including progress reports and physical and financial results. An additional agreement permits the allocation of an amount equivalent to one per thousand of the total resources to the State Executive Comptroller, for surveillance, inspection, control, and evaluation of the works and actions undertaken.

The agreement also includes a clause for the suspension or cancellation of resource reallocation if the funds are misused or if there is non-compliance with obligations. In such cases, the misused amounts must be refunded to the federal treasury within 15 days. Uncommitted, unexecuted, or unpaid funds, as well as financial returns, must also be returned.

The agreement may be terminated early if its objectives are met, by mutual agreement, or if the funds have been used for purposes other than those stipulated.