House of Representatives Adopts by Majority of Votes Government Bill on Creation of the Agency for High Atlas Development

The House of Representatives adopted on Monday, October 30, 2023, by a majority of votes Government Bill 57.23, ratifying Decree-Law 2-23-870 of October 4, 2023 (Rabii 18, 1445) on the creation of the Agency for High Atlas Development. The adoption took place during a legislative plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, with the presence of the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Relations with the Parliament and Government Spokesperson, Mr. Mustapha Baïtas. 

The adoption of the Bill comes to implement the high Royal directives aiming at the general reconstruction and development of the regions struck by the Al-Haouz earthquake. In this regard, a five-year program (2024-2028) was established and allocated a budget of MAD120 billion. 

The program includes creating a large platform for stock and essential reserves, including tents, covers, beds, drugs, and food, in every region, as per the high Royal directives. 

The Bill sets the missions and prerogatives of the Agency, namely the implementation of all the components and projects of the program, particularly the ones related to the reconstruction and development of the damaged regions, while taking into consideration the environmental aspect and respecting the unique heritage, traditions, and lifestyle of the people of the concerned area. 

The Agency is also tasked with achieving convergence and harmony between the projects included in the program in coordination with the various administrations and stakeholders. Besides, the Bill stipulates that the Agency must monitor the implementation of the program and elaborate a record of the achievements, especially regarding the progress of the elaboration of projects, the commitment to expenses, the progress of works, the performance status, and the evaluation of the impact of the implemented projects using performance efficiency indices. 

The adopted legislative text requires the State administrations, territorial authorities, and public institutions to provide the Agency, upon its request, with all the necessary documents, data, and information to enable it to accomplish the missions entrusted to it.