In a renewed effort to bridge social gaps and bring essential services to Mexico’s most isolated regions, Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda recently visited Cedros Island, launching the “With the Heart Forward” outreach program. The event aimed to deliver health services, educational support, administrative assistance, and vital social aid to the community.
During the visit, residents received health screenings via mobile health caravans—marking a historic first with the provision of mammograms—and access to administrative procedures, food supplies, wheelchairs, and materials to improve local infrastructure, like concrete flooring. Social programs also included the distribution of the Violet Card and support for small businesses through productive projects designed to boost local economies.
The governor emphasized that this visit underscores a long-term commitment, aligning with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s directive to ensure social programs reach even the most remote communities.
“After much work, Baja California has become the first state in Mexico where there is practically no extreme poverty, and this is due to a policy we have worked on with the principle that, for the good of all, the poor come first,” she said.
Since the start of her administration, Ávila Olmeda reported that over 20 million pesos have been invested in Cedros Island’s social development. She highlighted that Baja California has become the first Mexican state to nearly eliminate extreme poverty, thanks to policies prioritizing the most vulnerable.
The state’s Secretary of Well-Being, Netzahualcóyotl Jáuregui Santillán, noted that these initiatives have made a tangible difference, with government resources reaching communities that had long been neglected.
Supporting Baja’s Fishing Communities
In El Rosario, a town with over two centuries of fishing tradition, the governor held a meeting with local industry representatives to directly address their concerns. She stressed that fishing is part of the DNA of Baja California’s families and an activity that brings prestige to the state’s cuisine and economy.
“You will always have a government that is an ally to fishing; we recognize the effort of the families, especially the women who sustain this activity every day, and with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s support, we will continue to strengthen the sector and improve its infrastructure,” Governor Marina del Pilar said.
During the meeting, fishing industry representatives expressed their gratitude to Governor Marina del Pilar for the attention, support, and understanding she has shown their community. They highlighted the revival of programs like outboard motor replacement, which contributes to the safety of fishers and environmental care, as well as the implementation of the “Fishing with the Heart” program.
The head of SEPESCA, Alma Rosa García Juárez, reported that as part of this outreach, symbolic support was delivered to beneficiaries from twelve associations in El Rosario and San Quintín, as part of the “Fishing with the Heart” program. She explained that this framework provides 3,750 pesos to over two thousand people involved in the fishing and aquaculture production chain, with a state investment of 7.5 million pesos.
The governor reiterated that her administration will keep the doors of the state government open to directly address the needs of fishers, strengthen productive infrastructure, and manage new support in coordination with the Federal Government and the Secretariat of Fishing and Aquaculture.
RELATED VIDEO: Governor Marina del Pilar Promotes Social Tourism
