In the last three years, the Get Your Rural Permit initiative has raised more than $200 million pesos that have been allocated to 13 rural municipalities to contribute to decentralization, managing to increase the income from circulation permits of the communes by more than 27% participants.
Deficit in fixed internet connection, shortage of drinking water, power outages or long distances to health centers are some of the indicators that reflect the gap that exists between rural and urban sectors.
For years the rural world has not been prioritized in Chile and the public agenda is concentrated on the 24% of the national territory. However, the contribution that this sector provides to the country, with its culture, resilience and its close link with nature, is immense, and is not always compensated equitably.
Chile is made up of 76% rural communes, but resources and accessibility are concentrated in the remaining percentage. During 2022, Las Condes raised 391 billion pesos, while Tortel was around 2 billion annually.
Territorial inequalities not only affect the lives of the inhabitants of a geographically remote territory, they also limit the development of an entire country. But there are small contributions and efforts that can be made to, for example, inject resources into rural areas that allow them to generate development opportunities.
As a way to contribute with a concrete solution to decentralization and reduce the existing gap, Balloon Latam – a social company, B certified – with the support of Comunidades Portal, invites people to transfer the payment for their circulation permit from their commune usual to a rural one, in a simple, easy way and with a single click.
“This initiative was born 3 years ago to promote a more equitable and supportive development of the country. We have collected more than $570 million from circulation permits, which translates into more than $200 million of total direct benefit destined for 13 rural municipalities and this year we will reach new territories. “Get your rural permit” has not only made Chileans aware of this invisible reality, but also increased the income from circulation permits of the participating communities by an average of 27%,” said the founder and executive director of Balloon Latam, Sebastian Salinas.
Between 2020 and 2021, thanks to municipal portability, Tortel, for example, increased revenue from circulation permits by 71%. According to Sebastián Salinas, “the evidence of the figures shows that with one click big changes can be promoted.”
How it is performed?
Go to www.sacatupermisorural.cl, where you can find all the necessary information. Then, choose one among the more than 15 communes in which you want to obtain the permit, complete and send the transfer form. Once sent, you must wait for approval from the chosen municipality, which takes between 1 to 2 business days. Finally, payment is made through the payment link sent by the municipality.
The procedure can now be carried out 100% online from the project website and will be available until April. For more information go to www.sacatupermisorural.cl or visit @balloonlatam on Instagram.