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| Intendencia de la Región de Coquimbo | |
|---|---|
| Name | Intendencia de la Región de Coquimbo |
| Native name | Intendencia de la Región de Coquimbo |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Coquimbo Region |
| Seat | La Serena |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Abolished | 2021 |
Intendencia de la Región de Coquimbo was the regional executive office representing the President of Chile in the Coquimbo Region until its replacement by the Regional Presidential Delegate in 2021; it operated from La Serena and coordinated with national ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, the Ministry of Public Works (Chile), the Ministry of Social Development (Chile), and the Ministry of Health (Chile). The office engaged with regional actors including the Regional Council of Coquimbo, the University of La Serena, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile branches, and local municipalities such as La Serena Municipality and Coquimbo Municipality, interacting with institutions like the Carabineros de Chile, Chile's Armed Forces, and agencies such as the Servicio Nacional de Turismo.
The Intendencia emerged during the Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990) as part of the administrative reforms enacted by the Government of Augusto Pinochet and the Decree Law 1, and it evolved through transitions under presidents including Patricio Aylwin, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Ricardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, and Gabriel Boric. Its institutional trajectory involved reforms tied to decentralization debates alongside proposals from commissions like the Commission for Decentralization and Regionalization and legislative processes in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Senate of Chile. Key historical events that shaped its functions included regional responses to the 2015 Coquimbo earthquake, the 2015 Chilean wildfires, the 2019–20 Chilean protests, and the administrative changes culminating in the 2021 Chilean regional reform.
The Intendencia acted as the presidential representative implementing national policies from entities such as the Presidency of the Republic of Chile, the Ministry of Finance (Chile), and the Ministry of Education (Chile) in collaboration with sectoral services like the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero and the Superintendencia de Medio Ambiente. It coordinated public security with Policía de Investigaciones de Chile and Carabineros de Chile, managed emergency responses with the Onemi and Bomberos de Chile, and oversaw regional planning involving the Regional Development Fund (FNDR), the National System of Protected Areas and infrastructure projects by the Dirección de Obras Hidráulicas. The intendencia interfaced with cultural bodies such as the Museo Arqueológico de La Serena and sports organizations including the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional clubs in the region.
Organizationally, the Intendencia comprised offices mirroring national ministries: an office for planning linked to the Subsecretariat of Regional and Administrative Development, a public works liaison connected to the Dirección de Vialidad, a social development unit coordinating with the Servicio Nacional de Menores, and a health coordination team working with the Seremi de Salud. Administrative staff liaised with higher education institutions like the Universidad Católica del Norte and research centers such as the Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia and the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA). It maintained interagency committees with the Superintendencia de Servicios Sanitarios and the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica for regional projects.
Notable persons who served as regional intendants included appointees during civilian administrations and military rule, interacting politically with figures such as Eduardo Frei Montalva (historical regional influence), Jorge Alessandri (policy precedents), Andrés Chadwick, Miguel Ángel Otero, Lucía Pinto, Emilio Ulloa, Jorge Insunza, and Claudio Ibáñez among others who played roles in coordinating ministries like the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (Chile) and agencies such as the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales. The office often worked with parliamentary representatives from districts including deputies from the Coquimbo electoral district and senators from the Coquimbo Senate constituency.
Its legal basis derived from constitutional provisions in the Constitution of Chile and legislation passed by the National Congress of Chile, and interacted with institutions such as the Contraloría General de la República and the Tribunal Constitucional (Chile) on matters of administrative legality. Political oversight and coordination included ties to party organizations like the Christian Democratic Party (Chile), the Socialist Party of Chile, the National Renewal (Chile), and the Party for Democracy (Chile), with influence from national cabinet decisions by ministers such as the Minister of the Interior and Public Security (Chile) and the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency.
The Intendencia coordinated policy with the Regional Council of Coquimbo and executive cooperation with municipalities including Ovalle Municipality, Vicuña Municipality, Illapel Municipality, and Andacollo Municipality as well as sectoral services like the Servicio de Salud Coquimbo. It engaged in multi-level governance with actors such as the Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades, the Federación Regional de Comunas, university extension programs from Universidad de La Serena and Universidad Católica del Norte, and civil society organizations including Cruz Roja Chilena. Interactions addressed regional planning instruments like the Plan de Desarrollo Regional and land-use frameworks overseen by the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental.
Major initiatives coordinated by the Intendencia included reconstruction after the 2015 Coquimbo earthquake, coastal adaptation projects linked to the Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA) precedents, water management works in collaboration with the Dirección General de Aguas, tourism promotion with Sernatur, and rural development programs with the INDAP. Infrastructure projects involved partnerships with the Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado on mobility proposals, port projects linked to the Puerto de Coquimbo, urban revitalization initiatives in La Serena Historic District supported by the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales, and educational facility upgrades in coordination with the Subsecretaría de Educación. The office also promoted renewable energy pilots with the Comisión Nacional de Energía and private actors such as Enel Chile and Colbún S.A., and supported scientific collaborations with the Observatorio Cerro Tololo and the European Southern Observatory affiliates operating in the region.
Category:Former regional administrations of Chile