The Government of the Azores announced on the island of Pico on Wednesday that will draft a Sectoral Plan for the Volcanic Caves of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The measure, approved by the Council of the Government, aims to stipulate guidelines for the land management of the volcanic caves, crevices and erosion caves of the archipelago in order to protect its ecological aesthetic, scientific and cultural values.
This sectoral plan should also establish the “protection scheme of the natural resources of caves by stipulating a management system compatible with the sustainable use of these areas, guidelines according to their specific characteristics as well as conservation and environmental tourism priorities,” the Vice-President of the Government added, presenting the outcome of the meeting.
The Council of the Government has also decided to create the Youth Volunteer Programme which aims to stimulate youth participation in tasks that reinforce their civic participation, encouraging solidarity, tolerance and full citizenship.
According to Sérgio Ávila, this programme, which integrates the Government’s support to youth voluntary activities addressed at youngsters aged between 15 and 30 as well as to the sponsors of these projects, was created with the purpose of “reinforcing youth participation in voluntary activities, raise the community’s awareness for their importance and encourage the creation of cooperation networks in society, thus by increasing the visibility and recognition of youth voluntary activities.”
Furthermore, it was has also been decided to amend the Regional Legislative Decree on the employment, career and salary systems of the Regional Public Administration workers.
With this proposal, which will be submitted to the Legislative Assembly, the Government intends “to provide the Regional Public Administration workers with the possibility of benefiting from the percentual limits set for the Excellent and Relevant categories, which will be also applied to those requesting assessment considerations “if their goals have not been properly defined.”
The Council of the Government has also authorised a contract programme with SPRHI, S.A. to fund the construction of 24 new houses and the respective infrastructures, in a 1.4 million Euro investment, in the village of Lomba de São Pedro, Ribeira Grande, to be allocated to needy families upon supported rent or leasing pool.