Presidency defends more than Q18 billion for Codedes in 2027 and promises project oversight

President Bernardo Arévalo has defended a 2027 budget of more than Q18 billion for Guatemala’s Departmental Development Councils, known as Codedes.

Arévalo said most of the allocation does not result from a discretionary government decision. Instead, he said, the amount is established by the legal framework governing investment in public works.

The president also referred to oversight of the works financed through the councils. The presidency’s explanation sought to justify both the size of the proposed allocation and the monitoring of the projects.