Paraguay TV companies demand audit of $22 million in Itaipú advertising funds

Paraguay's Chamber of Television Companies (Catelpar) has called for a thorough audit of over $22 million in public funds allocated to advertising, institutional communication, and events by Itaipú Binacional and the Parque Tecnológico Itaipú (PTI-PY) foundation over the past three years. The demand follows revelations by ABC Color that highlighted the significant expenditure, raising concerns about the management of state resources.

Catelpar stated that the sheer magnitude of these funds necessitates public explanations regarding their distribution and the criteria used for awarding contracts. The organization emphasized that all public resource utilization must adhere to "clear, objective, and fully transparent" principles. It urged authorities to publicly disclose the mechanisms for assigning advertising, the selection criteria for suppliers, the contracting procedures, and the outcomes of these investments.

The chamber stressed that citizens have a fundamental right to understand how public resources are managed and who benefited from contracts funded by state money. Catelpar reiterated its commitment to institutional strengthening and called for open, verifiable, and auditable processes to restore public trust in resource management. This statement underscores ongoing debates about the allocation of official advertising and the need for enhanced oversight of public funds in Paraguay.