HISTORY

The Highway Maintenance Fund FOVIAL was launched November 30 th 2000, as a result of the long term vision of the government that took in their hands the challenge to bridge the backlog in road ( highways) maintenance.

However, the first great obstacle they encountered was the lack of support to the fuel levy needed to set up the Fund. In addition to make matters worse, the initial funds granted by the central government for the institution to begin operations had to be reoriented to the "debris removal program", needed after the earthquakes that struck El Salvador in January and February 2001. This resulted in an uncertain and discouraging outlook for the future to come.

Notwithstanding this FOVIAL´S Board of Directors held its first meeting on March 16 th 2001, to lay the strategy to get support to amend the law that would allow the charge of $ 0.20 per gallon and ensure FOVIAL´S continuity.

On October 31st 2001 almost a year later the reform was finally approved but the charching scheme remained pending.

Since then the Board of Directors endorsed continues to work and in November 2001, with funds from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) the first eight periodic projects were initiated. The idea behind this was to have the users of the highway network to see tangible results to demonstrate the benefits of the program.

At the same time the preparation of request for proposals for the routine and periodic maintenance Projects that FOVIAL would execute was initiated, now as and independent entity, and autonomy on the use of the funding, without any ties to the general budget.

On February 22 2002 after the approval of the levy and the general budget the request for proposals for the periodic Maintenance of 172 kms. of road began.

It was until May 3 rd . 2002, that the order to start for the projects was given. In the same fashion on June 1 st 2002, starting orders were given for the routines maintenance projects, which encompassed 15 groups of paved roads and the same number of unpaved roads and 2,077 kms. of unpaved roads.

Now, the institution provides maintenance to 100% of the primary national highway network, 3,017.28 kms. of paved roads and 3,055.94 kms. of unpaved roads, with a total of 6,073.22 kms.

As of today FOVIAL modern, efficient and effective institution with a horizontal organization structure of merely 45 employees. With a budget execution of which 98% of all resources are designated to capital investment of projects and about 2% of the spending is designated to administration.

But the most important, is it´s contribution to keep communicated all salvadorians so they can have more opportunities for a better standard of life.