Media and news Regional Government of the Azores - Communication

Nota de Imprensa
January 19, 2026
José Manuel Bolieiro entrega 13 novas habitações e reafirma prioridade “cristalina” na habitação
O Presidente do Governo dos Açores, José Manuel Bolieiro, presidiu hoje à cerimónia de entrega de 13 novas habitações multifamiliares na Urbanização de São Brás, na ilha Terceira, assinalando um momento que considera de concretização de um compromisso público. “Estou hoje a concretizar em nome do Governo dos Açores este objetivo”, afirmou, sublinhando que a responsabilidade governativa passa por “fazer acontecer o desenvolvimento do bem-estar social, o apoio às pessoas e às famílias”. Integradas no Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR), as 13 habitações representam um investimento de 2,4 milhões de euros (com IVA) e distribuem-se por oito fogos T2, quatro T3 e um T4. No total, vão beneficiar 13 agregados familiares, correspondendo a 42 pessoas (25 adultos e 17 menores). As casas destinam-se a habitação própria permanente e são atribuídas em regime de arrendamento com opção de compra, uma solução que procura dar estabilidade às famílias e, ao mesmo tempo, abrir caminho a uma transição mais segura para a aquisição. A opção de compra pode ser exercida pelo arrendatário após um ano da assinatura do contrato. O concurso público decorreu entre 15 de agosto e 30 de setembro de 2025, tendo sido submetidas 257 candidaturas. O líder do executivo açoriano reforçou que a prioridade política do Governo está centrada nas pessoas.  “Nós definimos como prioridade para a governação as pessoas e as famílias”, disse, acrescentando que “as pessoas e as famílias são o fim principal da missão governativa e da missão política e do investimento público”. O Presidente do Governo apontou ainda o PRR como um instrumento decisivo para acelerar respostas, destacando “a importância alavanca que os fundos comunitários nos atribuíram”, considerando esta ajuda “distintiva” para garantir objetivos. Para José Manuel Bolieiro, a habitação tem vindo a assumir um lugar cada vez mais central na ação governativa, por ser determinante para a estabilidade e para o futuro das famílias.  “A habitação tem-se afirmado cada vez mais como uma das prioridades”, afirmou, lembrando que “faz falta para a felicidade e projeto de vida das famílias” aumentar a oferta habitacional nos Açores. “É por isso que nós temos uma prioridade de forma absolutamente cristalina, relativamente à oferta habitacional”, reforçou. A cerimónia serviu também para fazer o ponto de situação do PRR Habitação na ilha Terceira. No âmbito de novas construções, estão já concluídas 37 habitações (incluindo as 13 de São Brás) e encontram-se 39 em execução. Em matéria de reabilitações, contabilizam-se 53 intervenções concluídas e 139 em execução. No conjunto, 100% dos procedimentos PRR Habitação na Terceira estão lançados, representando um investimento total final de 25.163.415,36 €, acrescido de IVA. A nível regional, o Governo dos Açores tem também lançados todos os procedimentos (para execução de empreitadas) PRR Habitação, num total de 767 respostas habitacional, entre reabilitações, construções e lotes, correspondendo a um investimento global de 65 milhões de euros. Estiveram presentes na cerimónia o Vice-Presidente do Governo dos Açores, Artur Lima, a Secretária Regional da Juventude, Habitação e Emprego, Maria João Carreiro, e a Presidente da Câmara Municipal da Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira.

Nota de Imprensa
January 19, 2026
Family Allowance Supplement for second half of 2025 already paid
The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security, through the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA), processed today the payment of the Azorean Family Allowance Supplement for children and young people (CAAF) for the second half of 2025. This payment covered 30,653 beneficiaries, corresponding to an overall amount of €1,473,427.70, thus bolstering support for Azorean families with children and young people in their care. It should be noted that, since 2019, the amount invested in the CAAF has grown 54% and that, since 2021, €13.6 million has been invested in this support measure under the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition governments.  The CAAF is granted every six months, being processed twice a year, and is an important social policy measure consisting of a cash supplement awarded to Family Allowance recipients residing in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Although recipients are children and young people, the payment is made to their parents, legal guardians or institutional guardians.  According to the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, this aid represents a direct contribution to improving the living conditions of families, helping them to meet the costs associated with the livelihood, education and well-being of children and young people. The government official also emphasised that this supplement plays an essential role in combating child poverty, promoting social cohesion and reducing regional inequalities, while also helping to encourage births on the nine islands of the archipelago. The Regional Government of the Azores also continues to promote child welfare and health, as well as seeking to improve birth rates, through the “Birth Plus” programme, which provides non-refundable financial aid amounting to €1,500 for products purchased in pharmacies for all children born in the Azores in their early years. "Last year, this measure covered 2,000 beneficiaries. Since 2022, approximately €5.4 million has been invested in this programme," added the Regional Secretary.

Nota de Imprensa
January 19, 2026
Azorean Councillors featured in eighth season of “Diaspora Talks"
The "Diaspora Talks," a series of biographical interviews in online format, premieres another season: its eighth season. It will introduce the Azorean Diaspora Councillors, the active voices of global Azorean identity, who were elected for the 2025-2029 term. The first episode is set to air this Sunday, January 25, at 6 p.m., featuring Councillors Sofia Quintana from Uruguay and Régis Gomes from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, through the Regional Directorate for the Communities, this initiative aims to bring the Azores closer to its emigrant communities in the diaspora and to immigrants residing in the archipelago, while also encouraging the participation of the general public. The eighth season brings together the 17 elected Councillors, distributed across the geographical areas of Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America, Uruguay, mainland Portugal and the rest of the world. The main change this season is the broadcast day, with sessions now taking place on Sundays at 6 p.m. instead of Mondays. The upcoming episodes, following the planned scheduled, will feature Marcos Pinheiro, from Santa Catarina, and António Arruda, from São Paulo (February 8); Marcos Borba, from Rio de Janeiro, and Vânia Silva, representing the remaining states of Brazil (February 22); Ricardo Ambrósio, from Bermuda, and Danny de Melo, from Massachusetts (March 8); David Pimentel and Katherine Soares, representing the remaining states of the United States of America (March 22); Zeto Carvalho, from California, and Esmeralda Cabral, from British Columbia (April 5); Matthew Correia, from Ontario, and Paulo Cabral, from Manitoba (April 19); and, lastly, Carlos Almeida, representing the remaining provinces of Canada, Rui Silva, representative of Mainland Portugal and Madeira, and Tiago Domingues, representing the rest of the world (May 3). The first three of seven seasons of "Diaspora Talks" aired in 2021 and were dedicated, successively, to the Houses of the Azores, the Azorean Diaspora Councillors for the 2021-2025 term, and the media outlets serving the Azorean communities in the United States and Canada. The fourth season kicked off in 2022 with community social service organisations, and in 2023, the initiative featured Azorean personalities who have distinguished themselves outside Portugal. In 2024, "Diaspora Talks" introduced "new Azoreans," i.e. third-country nationals residing in the archipelago. The seventh season featured fifteen Azorean descendants residing in Brazil, Bermuda, the United States of America and Canada, who have made a name for themselves in various fields of activity. As in previous editions, the interviews are broadcast on the “Azorean Communities” Facebook page, with replays on YouTube, and presented by the Regional Director for the Communities, José Andrade.

Nota de Imprensa
January 16, 2026
Berta Cabral attended meeting of Strategic Council for Tourism Promotion
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, participated today in the meeting of the Strategic Council for Tourism Promotion held in Faro. The government official was accompanied by the Regional Director for Tourism, Rosa Costa, and the President of Visit Azores, Luís Capdeville. During the meeting, the new Portugal Brand (BAV) study was presented. The main findings were disclosed and will soon be made available to all entities in the sector. This study is a fundamental strategic tool for defining the country's external promotion priorities. Turismo de Portugal (national tourism authority) also presented its results from 2025, outlining the sector's evolution and key performance indicators. This was followed by presentations from the Tourism Regions, which shared their challenges and priorities for the next cycle. Among the topics highlighted was the need to increase investment in attracting international events, prioritising growth in value over an increase in visitor figures. The constraints on national airport infrastructures were also addressed, having been identified as one of the main factors limiting the sustainable growth of tourism. For Berta Cabral, these issues are "crucial for the future of the sector" and should be analysed with special attention, both in the national context and in an island region such as the Azores. The Regional Secretary also stressed the need to align strategic thinking on the promotion of tourism in Portugal, boosting investment in attracting events "as drivers of visibility, value and diversification of demand." The Tourism Regions, including the Azores, agreed on the priority of investing in tourism with greater added value, which is more sustainable and qualified, advocating that the future of the sector lies in an approach that favours quality over quantity. The Strategic Council for Tourism Promotion is the advisory body of the Government of the Republic for the external promotion of Portugal as a tourist destination. As such, it fosters strategic coordination between Turismo de Portugal, the Regional Governments of the Azores and Madeira, the Portuguese Tourism Confederation, the Regional Tourism Promotion Agencies, and the respective Regional Tourism Entities.

Nota de Imprensa
January 16, 2026
LEADER programme reaches €42 million in funding and strengthens support for rural investment, says António Ventura
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, highlighted today the effectiveness of the LEADER Programme in rural development in the Azores, which has seen an overall investment of €41.8 million and 696 projects supported under PRORURAL+ (2014-2025) and co-financed by the EAFRD. The government official spoke during a visit to the “Próteas Arline Avelar” project, together with the President of the Board of Directors of GRATER, in São Bartolomeu, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo. This is an initiative aimed at agricultural diversification and the promotion of local products, which is supported by this financial tool. "LEADER has been a decisive tool in giving a voice to territories and supporting those who want to invest and create opportunities on our islands," stated António Ventura. The government official added that "projects like this show that, when there is proximity, local knowledge and technical support, it is possible to generate economic, social and environmental value sustainably."   In the Azores, the LEADER approach is based on Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), implemented by Local Action Groups (LAGs). This methodology is considered strategic for the archipelago, enabling it to respond to the geographical dispersion challenges and the need to diversify the rural and island economy. The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food reinforced the programme in 2025 with €18.5 million, ensuring that progress reaches all islands equitably and stimulating local job creation, from the agrifood sector to sustainable tourism. With a view to the new programming period under the PEPAC (2026-2028), António Ventura announced an allocation of €14.4 million and an innovative measure to boost the business fabric in rural areas. "Under PEPAC, the LEADER programme will award a €15,000 installation premium to companies setting up in rural areas of the Azores, regardless of their economic classification," revealed the Secretary for Agriculture. The government official stressed that the necessary legislation for the new support cycle is already being prepared, ensuring the continuity of rural and community development until 2028. For the Regional Secretary, these policies ensure that agriculture and related activities continue to be the driving force for social cohesion and the strengthening of rural communities in the Azores.

Nota de Imprensa
January 16, 2026
Azores want to continue being example in immigrant integration, stresses Paulo Estêvão
The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, stressed today that the Region intends to continue being an "example" in the integration of immigrants, always in collaboration with entities, political forces and "civil society as a whole." "We want to continue to be a society that welcomes others with kindness. A society that knows how to integrate, otherwise our communities abroad would not be a source of pride for all of us, a source of pride as all the countries where they work value and respect them. This is our standard of excellence," stressed the government official. Paulo Estêvão spoke at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores regarding a Socialist Draft Resolution, approved by a majority of members, on measures to support the integration, training and regularisation of immigrants in the Azores. The Regional Secretary pointed out that immigration "is not a divisive issue" in the Azores and does not give rise to heated political debate, thanks to the efforts of successive Azorean governments and opposition parties, and the hospitable and altruistic nature of the Azorean people." Paulo Estêvão also noted that immigrants represent less than 4% of the resident population in the Region, "far from the 15% they represent nationwide." Furthermore, he stated that "the Azoreans, one of the peoples with the highest migratory projection in the world, have, due to this historical experience, a greater sensitivity to migratory issues." However, he acknowledged that "the challenges posed by immigration are very significant" in areas such as housing, employment, education and health. "Decisions and the regulatory and legal context are largely the result of decisions made by national sovereign bodies. What we do and decide is always strongly conditioned by national choices in this area. But even so, we can do a lot, as long as this is our purpose," he stressed, praising the recommendations presented in parliamentary debate. "This does not mean that the policies and actions outlined in the socialist initiative are not already being developed. In most cases, they are, and in many cases, they were already being implemented before 2020. In other cases, they are new ideas and practices that we want to integrate into our political action," defended the government official. The Azoran Government “has been promoting, in collaboration with various entities, vocational training and Portuguese language courses,” an effort that will be stepped up, assured Paulo Estêvão.  He continued: “We are going to sign an agreement with Madeira to share training capacities in both regions. We are going to increase the pay of instructors.” Regarding the agreement signed between the Azorean Government and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum - AIMA, which will enable RIAC offices to assist immigrants on all islands of the archipelago, the government official acknowledged some constraints in the process, but assured that progress would be made during the current year. Protocols have been signed with the Association of Immigrants in the Azores-AIPA and Cresaçor for the submission of complex, rigorous processes in the area of document regularisation, within the scope of residence permit renewal. We will provide AIPA with a public space so that it can respond to the huge increase in the number of people seeking assistance. We are organising activities and projects from preschool to higher education to promote the integration of immigrants. We also organise an annual Migration Forum to foster a broad debate on the migration policies we are implementing," he continued, announcing that, from this year onwards, all parliamentary parties will be invited to follow the works of the Forum. Moreover, the Guide to Hiring Foreign Citizens in the Azores was created, "which is now being updated to reflect recent legislative changes," while maintaining the basic premise of "supporting entrepreneurs and immigrants in the hiring process." "In short, the Regional Government intends to continue making improvements in collaboration with immigrant associations, the Azorean Parliament and Azorean civil society as a whole in terms of immigration, with a view to preserving the Azores' exemplary status in this area," concluded the Regional Secretary.

Nota de Imprensa
January 16, 2026
Regional Government increases accommodation capacity of Displaced Patient Support Service in Lisbon
The Regional Government has increased the accommodation capacity of the Displaced Patient Support Service (SADD) in Lisbon by signing a new protocol that includes an additional two-bedroom apartment and a one-bedroom apartment adapted for users with reduced mobility. This expansion addresses a need identified by the SADD team, led by Catarina Silva, providing a more adequate response to the growing number of users from the Autonomous Region of the Azores who travel to Mainland Portugal for medical exams, consultations or treatments. For the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, this measure reflects the Regional Government's ongoing attention to the difficulties experienced by patients when they are forced to leave the Region for healthcare. “The Regional Government is aware of the difficulties that Azorean patients face when travelling outside the Region for exams or treatment and intends to mitigate these impacts by ensuring a responsive, dignified and humane response. Fortunately, this is what the Displaced Patient Support Service has been providing to our users,” emphasises the person responsible for the service. Regarding the length of stays, 46% were short stays of less than five days. Regarding the origin of patients, 54% had been referred from the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital in Ponta Delgada, 34% from the Santo Espírito Hospital of Terceira Island, and 12% from the Horta Hospital. During 2025, the SADD team carried out a total of 11,914 interventions, which included psychosocial support, telephone contacts, guidance on travel procedures, processing of daily allowances and providing information on patients' rights and duties. A further 3,762 social diagnoses and 6,751 procedures were carried out, ensuring active and effective monitoring, particularly in more complex cases. Therefore, SADD is an essential structure with a high level of social responsibility. “Behind each of these figures are the Regional Health Service patients and their families, as well as stories marked by support, dedication and humanism. It is this commitment that the Regional Government of the Azores continues to focus on, improving responses and ensuring better conditions for those who need it most,” concluded Mónica Seidi.

Nota de Imprensa
January 16, 2026
Berta Cabral highlights importance of cooperation between the Regional Government and Local Government to improve people's lives
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, highlighted on Wednesday the importance of infrastructures such as viewpoints to "improve the tourist experience and promote Azorean parishes as tourist attractions." Berta Cabral spoke at the opening ceremony of the Pináculo Viewpoint (Entre Lombas), located in the parish of Pedro Miguel, municipality of Horta, Faial Island. For the government official, the ongoing cooperation between the Government of the Azores and Local Government "results in this type of commendable action, which improves the lives of the population." The newly opened viewpoint represented an investment of over €45,700 and is the first project opened under the new parish support system created by the Regional Government. Located near the coast and bordering the islands of Pico, São Jorge and Graciosa, it offers a panoramic view over the parish of Pedro Miguel, namely over the Pedro Miguel Graben, one of the most peculiar geological structures on the island of Faial, and the Protected Area for Habitat or Species Management of Lomba Grande. It is also located on the route of some of the Azores Trail Run and São Pedro Graben de Pedro Miguel Trail events. Built entirely of wood, it is rooted in the rocky area and protrudes from the slope. It has a total implantation area of 5.82m by 5.05m, with a usable area of 2.5m by 4.30m. The access road has been widened on flat ground to provide two parking spaces. The viewpoint is enclosed by wooden railings and has an access ramp.