Housing emergency, Pietro Medici (Iacp) speaks: "We will renovate the buildings, they are a heritage to be protected."

"The housing stock of the Autonomous Institute of Public Housing of Agrigento must be protected because it represents a wealth for thousands of families who cannot afford a larger and more useful home in situations of poverty. We must work hard to make thousands of buildings efficient throughout the provincial territory. There are no municipalities in the entire province of Agrigento that do not have public and affordable housing properties."

This is what the new president of Iacp Pietro Medici claims, who has recently taken office at via Bramante, 42, in Agrigento.

"In the province - says Medici - there are about 7 thousand public housing units, some brand new like those in Ribera and others dating back to the decades before and after the war in Agrigento and Canicattì. Some are in satisfactory condition, while others are in need of redevelopment interventions."

What is the economic situation of the Entity?

"The biggest problem is tenant arrears. About 60 percent of the tenants do not pay the rent. And to think that the expense is around 50-60 euros per month."

How can families be helped?

"First of all, public housing should be exempt from the municipal IMU payment that is present in all municipalities. It would be a help, albeit slight, to family budgets. Yet local authorities apply it and demand payment that could be avoided for decidedly public housing."

What does the Iacp of Agrigento propose?

"An ambitious program will be to equip the buildings with solar photovoltaic systems and thermal insulation that would allow for energy efficiency and reduce the electricity bill by about 40-50 percent. This would be a significant help for the budgets of many families."

The Iacp of Agrigento returns to its origins, after years of management by various regional officials sometimes detached from the territory. Pietro Medici, a lawyer by profession, was born in Ribera, but lives in Burgio. He was appointed by decree of the president of the Region Schifani. He took office 48 hours ago along with the new board of directors of the agency, which is composed of Gioacchino Zarbo and another member who will be appointed soon. At the time of the inauguration, the commissioner Salvatore Giovanni Pignatone, the general director Teresa La Russa, the mayor of Agrigento Francesco Miccichè, and the regional deputy Roberto Di Mauro were present. Pietro Medici is not new to roles within the Iacp Council, having already been a member in the years from 1999 to 2004.