The event was held at the House of Culture in Rancagua, in which regional authorities, headed by the regional secretary of Mining, Bárbara Gavia, and the regional secretary of Government, Carlos Carrasco, informed the community of the regional capital about the benefits of the Mining Royalty, a law that last April distributed 8.948 million pesos in 33 communes of O'Higgins.

“This is the first time we have met with the residents of Rancagua to explain the funds that were provided, which in the case of this city were a little over 928 million after being considered a mining commune. It is important that the community knows about these revenues so that the positive impact of mining can be seen,” said Bárbara Gavia.

Due to the presence of Codelco División El Teniente in the O'Higgins region, Rancagua, Coltauco, Doñihue, Machalí, Requínoa and Litueche were recognized as "mining communes" and received a total of $3,320,928,632. The rest of the resources were delivered to another 27 municipalities through the Territorial Equity Fund, which distributed $5,627,422,843 this year.

Regional Minister Carlos Carrasco stressed that "the more the benefit and what the Royalty means is known and disseminated, the stronger we will be in what this advance means for the community and for our country."

Opportunity to participate

For Tabita Castillo, president of the Villa Arco Iris Residents' Association, the event is valuable because "it provided very positive information that allows us to raise our concerns with the municipal authorities so that these resources can be used in the best way, such as the repair of plazas, multi-purpose courts and social centers, among other improvements."

Marcela Riquelme, independent deputy for District 15, explained that the information session is essential so that the community “can be part of the projects that are going to be presented. The municipalities have freedom to manage these resources and, therefore, it is very important here that the neighbors take the initiative and say how they think these resources should be spent.”

In addition to its contribution through the Mining Royalty, El Teniente also provides resources to the State to finance public policies that benefit the community through the payment of taxes on its annual production level and is added to the resources that must be contributed by private mining companies such as Minera Escondida, Antofagasta Minerals, Anglo American, Lumina Copper Mining, Lundin, Glencore, Teck, Freeport–McMoRan, Sierra Gorda SCM, Collahuasi and Capstone Copper, all located in the north of the country.