Citizens block PY06 highway to demand MOPC repair potholes

Frustrated residents blocked the PY06 highway near the Iruña toll booth in southern Alto Paraná, Paraguay, demanding urgent repairs from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC). The protest, which involved a 10-minute closure of the busy road, led to considerable traffic jams but concluded without incident, according to organizers and the National Police.

Demonstrators are calling for immediate intervention from the MOPC, highlighting the daily risks drivers face navigating numerous large potholes. The deteriorating condition of the road, particularly the potholes located near the MOPC-managed toll plaza, has caused widespread indignation. As a symbolic act of protest, participants planted a banana plant in one of the largest potholes and wrote messages on the pavement.

Ernesto Ojeda, a protest participant, explained that the road's poor state has persisted for years without a government response. He emphasized the critical role the route plays for agricultural production and daily commuters, many of whom experience road accidents due to the hazardous conditions. Ojeda noted that MOPC representatives contacted him, stating that approval for a loan to duplicate the PY06 route is pending before the National Congress.

The protesters have issued a one-week ultimatum for adequate repairs, including resurfacing or at least patching the most dangerous potholes. They stated they will no longer accept low-quality repairs that fail within a month. MOPC representatives have scheduled a meeting with residents next week to establish a working group and find solutions.

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We are the ones who experience the most road accidents, because many of us use this stretch every day. We are in a high agricultural production area and depend on this route.