Comunicación y participación ciudadana para la transformación de los territorios: el caso de TransMiCable en la Localidad de Ciudad Bolívar.

Abstract

TransMiCable (a cable railway) is a paradigmatic project in the implementation of participatory citizen relationship processes. This is because in addition to being an innovative project in terms of technology for urban transport, it improves urban governance by articulating common objectives of various social development actors such as the public sector and citizens. In this way, scenarios of social and organizational strengthening are built in the management of communities with the public sector.

That is why this research aims to identify and analyze what were the processes of participatory communication and citizen participation in Ciudad Bolívar related to the construction and start-up of TransMiCable. Understanding that these processes made possible the social transformations and the improvement of the quality of life in the communities involved in the project between 2016 and 2018. This seeks to offer the necessary alternatives of approach and incidence for the governance in the construction of projects and territorial interventions, having as its axis the development of work with the communities.

On the other hand, it is expected to identify the communication and participation processes that enabled citizen dialogue, the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of citizen culture for the appropriation of the project. In addition to determining what were the participation and communication strategies that were implemented during the construction and commissioning of TransMiCable in Ciudad Bolívar when it came into operation between 2017 and 2018. This also seeks to understand the communication processes in the town of Ciudad Bolívar, derived from the construction and commissioning of the TransMiCable and its contribution to citizen empowerment and appropriation in the transformation of the territory. The above are the specific objectives that will allow knowing the experiences and activities that made the project, which was conceived as a mobility solution, become a Comprehensive Urban Project.

For the research process, the qualitative research methodology is used, with the case study method, taking as its axis the experiences of the local communities and the public entities that participated in the construction process of the system, through a approach to the social actors that were part of the project, the citizen participation and communication scenarios implemented in the development of the work, the incidence and scope left by all the intervention strategies that were executed during the construction of the Cable.

As a result of the research process, it can be determined that since 2017, TransMiCable implemented different strategies that strengthened the social and cultural fabric of the locality, and processes that had traditionally been executed separately in public entities were integrated: social management and service to citizens. This articulation reinforced both processes, consolidated the intervention of the project and the incidence of the sociocultural component. As a result of the foregoing, the relationship with the communities was optimized, making strategic the need to educate and communicate with citizens.

In addition to the above, the communication and participation processes implemented in TransMiCable allowed it to become a comprehensive urban development for the modernization of the town, as it transformed the surrounding space with a series of complementary facilities planned in collaboration with the citizens and that added social value to the project. These facilities bring prosperity and a culture of coexistence to the town (these are cultural centers, a museum, parks, open-air gyms, parks with games for children, centers for the elderly, community halls, spaces dedicated to tourism and a SuperCade, a citizen service office).

On the other hand, it was possible to establish that during the development of the project there was the participation of various social actors such as leaders of Community Action Boards, neighborhood associations, associations of residents and owners, environmental organizations, unions, local disability council and other type of organizations interested in the work; thus strengthening the territorial management of entities and communities. These spaces for dialogue and training have special emphasis on the mechanisms of participation, dialogue and citizen culture.

As conclusions of the research process, it can be ensured that the participation of citizens in the design and execution of public policies becomes the axis of development, providing advocacy tools, and territorial presence for social and community transformation. This occurs from the previous stages, beginning in the feasibility stage, going through the studies and design, which is the most influential stage in the projects, and ending in the construction and maintenance of the work.

It can also be determined that the processes of participatory, alternative and community communication play a determining role in the construction of the social fabric of the community. In such a way that the community becomes jointly responsible for the urban development of the locality and the city, and with this the appropriation and sustainability for Ciudad Bolívar and for the project is achieved. As a result of the communication and citizen participation processes, TransMiCable became an example of social management that has been replicated by the district administration in other projects in Bogotá that seek territorial transformation in the face of constant work with citizens.