2047 | 25 March 2025 | 18:11

The Minister was categorical that the entire team at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is available 24/7 for questions and emphasizes the importance of every municipality working actively towards implementing investments for the benefit of its resid

Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov held a working meeting with mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities - beneficiaries of components of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan (NRSP) related to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP). The purpose of the meeting was for the minister and the team at the MLSP to ensure the full mobilization of the municipalities to carry out the investments, to familiarize themselves with the challenges they are facing, and to answer their questions, the press center of the ministry reported.

The plan includes a complete renovation of 81 homes for the elderly worth 381 million BGN. The investment is part of the project "Modernization of Long-Term Care", which has a total value of 753 million BGN. It also includes financing for the construction of 250 new social services for people with disabilities and projects for energy efficiency for existing services. This is essentially a comprehensive reform of long-term care that will significantly improve conditions for users.

"At the moment, we are all in the same boat and we must work together to implement all projects under the NPSU. We have a year and a few months, so I ask for full mobilization from everyone. Each of you surely wants to leave a mark in the municipality you govern. Let us congratulate ourselves after a year and a few months that everything has been adopted and quality and efficient services have been provided for the people who deserve them", Minister Gutsanov stated.

He was categorical that the entire team at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is available 24/7 for questions, and emphasized the importance of each municipality actively working towards the implementation of investments for the benefit of its residents. "I am ready to assist with coordination with other institutions if necessary," the minister stated.

The meeting was held in a hybrid format - online and in person, with over 70 representatives of the local authorities present on-site, and close to 120 people joining through a virtual link. The Deputy Minister Nataliya Efremova, the Chief of the Minister's Political Cabinet Zornitsa Vassileva, Tsvetan Spasov - Head of the monitoring and reporting structure for EU funds, as well as experts involved in the project also participated on behalf of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

At the meeting, Minister Gutsanov handed over the contracts for the project "Modernization of Long-Term Care" to the municipalities of Svishtov, Shumen, and Batak.

With a budget of nearly 3.9 million BGN, three new buildings will be constructed in the municipality of Batak to provide three new services. Two of them will offer residential care for adults with physical disabilities and intellectual challenges. People with disabilities and their families in the municipality can also use the service of the Center for Specialized Support.

In Shumen municipality, the construction of three new buildings for the establishment of a Center for Residential Care for adults with mental disorders is also planned, with a budget of over 1.3 million BGN.

Four buildings for new social services will be constructed in the municipality of Batak - for residential care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and a Center for specialized support for people with disabilities and their families. The project is worth about 5 million BGN.