translated from Spanish: Deputies presented a petition to the FNE to insigenn possible collusion in building materials

DC parliamentarians, led by Deputy DC Matias Walker, entered the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office (FNE) a request for investigation of the market of construction materials, given the obvious price increases and irregularities in this area, even causing some stock breaks, which has directly impacted on supply and demand, with serious damage to the construction of housing. The audit presentation to the National Economic Prosecutor was signed by deputies Matías Walker, Gabriel Silber, Gabriel Ascencio, Miguel Ángel Calisto, Manuel Antonio Matta, Iván Flores, José Miguel Ortíz, Mario Venegas, Joanna Pérez, Mario Venegas, Jorge Sabag and Daniel Verdessi.The text entered indicates that “it is public knowledge the current affectation in the supply chain of the construction sector, which has generated a significant increase in the price of coarse work materials, finishing materials and artifacts, presenting some of them, including stock breaks directly impacting supply and demand. In relation to the latter, without ceasing to consider the one that has been generated for the improvement of homes at a particular level and purchase of inputs for minor works and / or repairs that originated especially by virtue of the withdrawal of 10% of the funds of AFP”. For this reason, Deputy Walker pointed out that “considering the relevance of housing in our country, as the main asset of Chilean families, and the enormous number of Chileans who apply year after year to housing subsidies and the known difficulties of access to it in the face of the scarcity of land and rising building costs, we ask the National Economic Prosecutor’s Office to report on having initiated an investigation into facts that could affect free competition and (or) collusion in the market for construction materials, its eventual result, or, where appropriate, initiate an investigation under the aforementioned unusual increases that have been recorded in this period, gathering the background that allows to determine or not the existence of such punishable behaviors or if they were consequences of the strength of the market.” Walker said that “this is especially affecting the projects of many housing committees with which we have been working, projects that have had to be revised in the amount due to the increase in the price of materials; here is a social variable that worries us, which affects those who dream of their own home or want to improve their home with the savings they withdrew from the AFPs. Therefore, we expect a rapid investigation from the FNE.”

Original source in Spanish