Cuenca news today, written for expats

The IESS president toured Cuenca’s José Carrasco Arteaga hospital on July 13 after a first-half investment of more than $4 million. The reported purchases include diagnostic equipment, lab supplies, prostheses, and planned hemodialysis capacity.

The Casa de la Cultura Azuay calendar runs July 13-18 with music, dance, literature, visual arts, and one $3 festival. Most activities are free and several are in easy Historic Center venues.

Diego Arteaga Matute, a recognized Cuenca historian and author of several works, died on July 13. Pumapungo confirmed the news through a condolence shared on social media.

Several peripheral Cuenca parks are showing damaged play areas, worn walkways, closed features, and other maintenance needs, while EMAC says it needs $250,000 to $300,000 a year for continuous park upkeep.

The planned Gapal interchange has an August 14 proposal deadline, a $21.0 million reference budget, and a 540-day construction window on the Cuenca-Azogues corridor.

ARCOM reporting identifies Camilo Ponce Enríquez, Sígsig, Pucará, and Santa Isabel as Azuay illegal-mining pressure points, while national illegal-mining sites have expanded sharply since 2018.