PAN Criticizes Federal Inaction on Sargassum and Health in Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Federal Deputy Ernesto Sánchez of the National Action Party (PAN) has accused the federal government of serious omissions in addressing structural problems in Quintana Roo, such as sargassum management, the health system, social security, and the protection of the tourism economy, despite previous warnings issued in the Congress of the Union.

Sánchez warned that these omissions become more critical with the approaching 2026 World Cup, noting that approximately 70% of international flights have Cancún International Airport as their arrival point.

In a press conference with Reyna Tamayo, state leader of PAN; Danna Saldaña, municipal leader in Playa del Carmen; and Juan Humberto Novello Zapata, councilor in the same municipality, he stated that the federation dismissed technical and legislative information, even though the early arrival of sargassum since January confirms that the phenomenon is no longer seasonal and is directly linked to climate change.

Sánchez recalled that PAN proposed in the Chamber of Deputies an expansion of 226 million pesos for sargassum studies and treatment, an initiative that was rejected by Morena and its allies under instructions from the federal government, with the argument that the problem “did not exist” and that the budget should not be duplicated.

He affirmed that this refusal constitutes a political, not technical, decision that now has direct consequences on the coasts of the Mexican Caribbean.

The deputy indicated that the lack of federal attention has allowed sargassum to evolve into a public health problem, affecting communities living near beaches due to the gases and residues generated by its decomposition.

This situation is aggravated by a deficient health system, without sufficient first-level hospitals in Quintana Roo, particularly in municipalities with high population growth such as Playa del Carmen, where private care is not accessible for the majority of the population.

He added that the federal government was also negligent in the proposal to allocate 25 cents of every 100 pesos from the budget to strengthen Quintana Roo’s health system.

Neglect of these problems generates an economic impact and loss of tourism competitiveness, affecting the state’s main source of income, he warned.

He indicated that Quintana Roo has lost ground to destinations such as Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas, and cited Tulum as an example of a destination where the tourism decline is already evident.

After warning that the omissions become more delicate with the 2026 World Cup, when around 70% of international flights have Cancún International Airport as their arrival point in Mexico, he questioned whether the federal government is truly prepared to handle that flow.

He said this because, in addition to the issues already mentioned, pending matters in public security and road connectivity persist in the state and the country, despite exhortations approved in the Chamber of Deputies.