IDEA's formula for multiplying resources and financing the development of Antioquia: more works and investment for the most vulnerable

Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced on Monday that the metropolitan mega-prison for suspects in the Aburrá Valley has reached a 47 percent completion rate. The facility, located in the San Cristóbal district, represents an investment exceeding 675 billion Colombian pesos. This update marks a 12 percent increase in physical progress since the last official report issued in August. The project aims to alleviate overcrowding in local police stations by providing dedicated detention infrastructure. The administration previously reported a 35 percent completion rate on August 27. Since then, construction crews have advanced significantly. The structure spans 30,000 square meters and will feature six pavilions capable of housing 1,340 inmates. One distinct section includes a Special Treatment Unit with spaces adapted for individuals with disabilities. This specific area is designed to accommodate 139 detainees. The facility is notable as the first prison built under a public-private partnership model. This approach responds to rulings by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court requiring dignified prison infrastructure. Construction efforts began in 2016 with preliminary feasibility studies. The concession was awarded to Carmet Medellín S.A.S., known locally as Prodemex. The oversight contract went to the Intercárceles Consortium. These entities will manage the site for 15 years, comprising three years of construction and twelve years of operation. Prodemex acts as the primary contractor, leveraging its regional experience in large-scale infrastructure projects. On Monday, Mayor Gutiérrez and Security Secretary Manuel Villa Mejía inspected the site. They noted that cells in pavilions one through five have reached the fourth level of construction. Work continues on roof structures, internal networks, and buildings designated for health, training, education, visits, administration, and services. The mayor stated that criminals would face strict confinement rather than engaging in extortion while awaiting trial. He emphasized the need for absolute control within the new facility. Gutiérrez projected that construction will conclude in May of next year. Following this, a period of one to one and a half months will be required for security and technology preparations. Initial trials with the first group of suspects are planned during this phase. By July of next year, the facility expects to house approximately 1,200 individuals currently held in police stations. The mayor described the prison as a model for both Medellín and Colombia. It will employ specialized private security forces similar to those used in maximum-security facilities. The complex will include areas for family visits, work programs, vocational training, and education to facilitate resocialization. Separately, the Institute for the Development of Antioquia, known as IDEA, has expanded its social investment fund through strategic alliances. This financial entity operates as a public development bank, channeling resources from public bodies to municipalities for infrastructure projects. Its surplus funds are reinvested into cheaper credit and social initiatives. The Social Investment Fund originated from a prudent liquidation of expired contracts, which released 1.6 billion pesos. This initial capital attracted partners including the Departmental Education Secretariat and the Fraternidad Medellín Foundation. The foundation covered 30 percent of the required public co-financing. These early successes led to broader participation. Over 12 private entities now collaborate with IDEA, including foundations such as Berta Martínez, Grupo Argos, Unibán, Hidroituango, and Mineros. Between 2024 and September 2026, the fund mobilized 89.199 billion pesos. IDEA contributed 52.5 percent of this amount, while allies provided the remaining 47.5 percent. Governor Andrés Julián Rendón describes the mechanism as a platform for works in exchange for taxes. Companies pay part of their income tax by building infrastructure, focusing on early childhood, education, culture, sports, social inclusion, and health. IDEA General Manager Catalina Gómez Toro highlighted the organization’s agility compared to larger government bodies. She explained that foundations find it easier to transfer resources to IDEA, which handles administrative processes and provides technical capacity. Projects range from rural schools to urban hospitals. In the remote hamlet of El Osito in Urabá, roughly 800 residents gained access to satellite internet via Starlink antennas, along with a dining hall, classroom, and playground. This connectivity opened avenues for education and healthcare services. In Bello, the Marco Fidel Suárez Hospital expanded its maternal and gynecological emergency unit by 20 percent, serving 1,200 patients monthly. In Medellín, upgrades to the Rosa Clinic and the Metrosalud network increased breast cancer detection capacity from one to seven clinics. Monthly patient attendance rose from 1,000 to 5,000 women. Additionally, the Concejo de Medellín Children’s Hospital received 1 billion pesos for its pediatric intensive care unit. This funding procured high-complexity ventilators and equipment.