Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The municipal government of Playa del Carmen, led by Mayor Estefanía Mercado, held a citizen dialogue session in the rural community of Campamento Hidalgo, with participation from residents of that locality and Punta Laguna. The goal was to hear community needs directly and incorporate them into the update of the 2024-2027 Municipal Development Plan (PMD).
During the meeting, Planning and Evaluation Secretary Rolando Méndez Navarro explained that these citizen participation mechanisms allow residents’ proposals to become official projects eligible for public funding. He emphasized the importance of understanding the needs of all sectors of the municipality and noted the strong participation of women and mothers in the working groups, calling it a sign of community commitment.
Indigenous Affairs Director César Uuh Chi thanked attendees in the Maya language and explained the work dynamics, aiming to help preserve the indigenous language. Councilman Juan Novelo Zapata, president of the Indigenous and Afro-American Affairs Commission, said these sessions fulfill the municipal government’s commitment to reaching out to communities and learning about their main needs firsthand.
Key priorities raised by residents included access to drinking water, electricity, street improvements, education, sports facilities, and street lighting. Novelo invited attendees to register their proposals in consultation forms to be integrated into the PMD update process. He also acknowledged the coordinated work between the Indigenous Affairs Directorate, the Social Justice and Citizen Participation Secretariat, community authorities, and representatives from Campamento Hidalgo and Punta Laguna.
The working groups included Maya language interpreters to ensure full participation. Additionally, a survey was conducted for young people aged 12 to 29 to strengthen the municipal population diagnosis, along with medical care brigades, vision services, and clothing support for those in need.
