MOPT Most Inefficient Government Agency
As if it was not evident, the Contraloría General de la República (Comptroller's office) reaffirmed in a report the fact that the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), is the most inefficient.

According to the Contraloría report, the MOPT needs serious deep and urgent changes as it continues with problems of duplicity of functions, no planning, lack of direction and equipment that is in poor state.

The report covers the operation of the MOPT during the last six years, that demonstrates that in that time only 179 new positions were opened and for every ¢1 colon that it invests, it spends ¢4 colones in expenses.

The Contraloría report indicates that 60% of the MOPT budge goes towards labour costs. The report says that of the 6.799 employees, 60% work in administration in the various "divisiones" or "direcciones".

The report also shows that 60% of the MOPT machinery is not working or in poor state of repair for lack of funds. The problem is most evident in the regions where the 2.175 employees don't count with the financial resources to do their jobs.

Karla González, the current minister of the MOPT, does not disagree with the report, saying that the Contraloría report, that it states the reality of what is going on in the institution and sees the report as an instrument to correct the multiple problems being faced.

"It reflects a great challenge for the administration of the current budget, thinking in investment and not in waste and reveals that during 2004 and 2005 there was no investment in roads and that is the reason for their poor condition", said minister González.

The MOPT minister took office last May and has repeatedly criticized the former government for lack of priorities to the roads and infrastructure and, like her predecessors, has vowed to correct the poor road conditions, building new roads and more police control.

The minister agreed that there is a big problem with equipment, especially in the regions where she says that 80% of the equipment is not in working. "I agree that the regions have been left behind because we have not given them the money needed and the reason we find many of the employees playing cards when we visit", said the minister.

The minister added that with the injectin of us$36 million dollars by the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi) the situation will improve.

The minister also promises a major revision of all assigned tasks and positions, as many of the workers are now behind a desk and not in the field where they are needed. One way to achieve this, the minister added, is to review the administrative vacancies created by retirement and transform those position into operations and inspections.

The minister was quick to point out that there will not be any mass firings at the MOPT, but will be working towards restructuring to take maximum advantage of the public funds it has available.