The president of the republic this Sunday warned of the need for society to be “permanently” prepared to live in unforeseen circumstances, as the social, private and public sectors have to do “even more” than they have done so far.
“We must be prepared for what life is, I will not say in an emergency, but in an unforeseen situation due to factors that – some – are under our control, others are not,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the delivery of the Manuel António da Mota Awards, in Port.
Looking at the social sector, the President of the Republic stated that “the responsiveness and resilience, the training of technicians and managers and new forms of entrepreneurship and social innovation have changed enormously”.
“Public demand for private sector intervention is also changing, forcing the generalization of what was groundbreaking when this award was launched – corporate awareness of their role in solving problems that affect us all. to change, but it needs to change more,” he said.
The head of state defended that the contribution of the private sector in an economy like Portugal’s is not only very important, but also irreplaceable.
“The introduction of social responsibility is remarkable, but in critical periods or a particular emergency, its appeal is magnified, [para um equilíbrio] between the value of specified companies, or revenues from these companies, and what constitutes the salary bill or the responsibilities arising from management itself”he added.
With regard to the public sector, the President of the Republic said that “it has changed its action, everything and in particular the municipal power, is even more attentive to the areas and their problems, has developed attitudes of proximity and defense of its own interest”.
These changes, he stressed, are clear and positive, but the effort must continue: “One thing is certain – we cannot look back at the poverty rates in a decade and recognize that, due to exogenous factors, the essence has not changed.” referred.
The risk of poverty increased
In his speech, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled that in 2009, the year of combating poverty and social exclusion, “the risk of poverty was 42.5% before social transfers and 18% after social transfers”.
In 2021, he said, “with the full effect of the paralysis of economies due to the pandemic”, in the early year of preparation of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy, “the rate was 43.4% before transfers and 18 , 4% after social transfers”.
“We were worse in 2021, after the pandemic, than in 2009, after the international crisis. Numbers are not people, everyone says that, but in the end they reveal a lot about what emergencies are, the cost of emergencies and how they suddenly throw away years of what we would consider social progress,” he underlined.
Reencontro — Associação Social, Educativa e Cultural, which works with vulnerable people and families in the municipality of Gouveia, was the winner of the 2022 edition of the Manuel António da Mota Prize.
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Vila Nova de Tazem, in Guarda, Reencontro develops social, educational and cultural activities with people and families in situations of vulnerability or social exclusion.
Under the motto “Portugal Justo”, the prize of 50,000 euros was awarded today at a ceremony at the Congress Center of Alfândega do Porto to the project “Ser Criança”, a community intervention program aimed at children from 03 to 10 years old and consisting of diagnosis, intervention and skills development.
The 13th edition of the Manuel António da Mota Prize also honored nine national institutions.
Source: DN
