Cuenca news today, written for expats

In Barabon, west of Cuenca, María Morocho and Manuel Nariguanga still make baskets from suro fibers beside the Yanuncay River. The craft is beautiful, but it is also fragile: materials are harder to obtain, younger generations have left, and many master weavers are now over 60 or 70.

Juan Carlos Vega, a Cuencano who currently leads Ecuador’s Agriculture Ministry and previously headed the Finance Ministry, has been selected by ADN as a pre-candidate for mayor of Cuenca. His public pitch centers on agriculture, rural credit, technology and direct commercialization.

Residents of Ciudadela Calderon are asking for attention to deteriorated recreation areas, damaged sidewalks, a sinkhole, night security gaps and environmental monitoring near the Parque Industrial. The neighborhood has about 1,000 residents and sits near one of Cuenca’s busiest industrial zones.

Arcsa seized compounded formulas and medicines without sanitary registration during an inspection in Cuenca. Health regulators said some products lacked preparation, validity or expiration dates, and Acess ordered two areas of the establishment closed until observations are corrected.

EMUCE has scheduled Father's Day activities at Cuenca's Cementerio Patrimonial for Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21. The program includes evening and morning Masses, followed by serenades in sector B of the cemetery.

Cuenca-based EcuaPass is highlighting a recent retirement visa approval handled from the first inquiry through the final visa PDF and cedula order. The application was submitted April 15 and Ecuador issued the visa PDF and cedula order June 9, about 55 days after submission.