Cuenca news today, written for expats

The Monay-IESS interchange on the Cuenca-Azogues corridor has reached about 40% physical progress. Officials say the first viaduct, in the Azogues-Cuenca direction, is expected to open in September 2026.

The Banco de Alimentos of the Archdiocese of Cuenca now supports 40 organizations and reaches 12 of Azuay’s 15 cantons. It receives an average of 56,000 kilograms of food a month and rescues about 41,000 kilograms for distribution.

The Universidad Catolica de Cuenca presented the Instituto de Ciudades de Paz, an academic initiative focused on research, training and social-innovation projects tied to coexistence, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

EMAC and the regional Labor Ministry are clashing over payments to the Hormiguitas Chuas, the workers who clean Cuenca streets. EMAC says it pays contractors, while the ministry is pressing for worker wages to be regularized.

The Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road is still closed after major slides, and officials now say a controlled reopening could take three to four weeks. A full rehabilitation is a much longer project, with bidding expected later in 2026 and construction estimated at 18 to 24 months.

Parque Miraflores is one of northern Cuenca’s major recreation areas, but neighbors say broken sports facilities, damaged playground equipment, poor lighting, and safety worries are making it harder to use. Residents are asking authorities for maintenance and stronger control.