Colombians, to talk about the budget, we must first make the accounts transparent. Let's begin. There is a question that seems simple but carries enormous weight in the cultural sector . How much does culture cost us ? But that question only makes sense after another question, the one that really matters. How much of that money actually reaches the artists, the creators, the cultural organizations and the territories? Because discussing budgets without knowing how what has already been allocated is being executed is starting the conversation from the wrong side, from the wrong side. And that was exactly what the Minister of Culture, Paola Olguín, raised in the political control debate to which she was summoned by the Sixth Committee of the House of Representatives. He said it bluntly. In order to talk about the budget, we need to make the accounts transparent. That phrase sums up the fundamental decision of this government. First we get the house in order, then we'll talk about money. The first finding has a name: bureaucracy. In 2024 the Ministry of Culture had 312 positions. With Decree 1591 of 2024, 323 new jobs were created and the staff jumped to 635 positions. To that we must add 1490 contractors in 2026. Faced with that growth, the minister was direct. Culture funds cannot be used for bureaucracy; they must be used for mission-related development. from the Ministry and announced a thorough review of administrative spending and contracting so that resources return to where they should be in culture. And when that review went into the contracts, what emerged was on another level. Of the 9,527 contracts analyzed, 4,366 were expired and were still listed as active in the SECO. 45 contracts were found with virtually identical items for 3.3 billion pesos. 49 processes had only one bidder and 330 cases of possible duplication, excessive additions or more expensive renewals were identified for 245 billion pesos. In 197 contracts, there didn't even seem to be an identified responsible department, so not even the Ministry of Culture itself could know who was responsible for those resources. The minister was even more forceful, stating, "We have to put an end to the cartels that control the contracting of oversight services and the excessive concentration of power in a few entrenched groups that have been draining the ministries' budgets. During the previous administration, 87% of contracts were awarded through direct contracting. That's wasteful spending disguised as cultural work, and behind each of those contracts is an artist waiting for a finished piece, a project that isn't progressing, and the infrastructure is n't improving. Of 30 projects reviewed, 18 present some kind of risk. 11 are suspended, abandoned, or have requested suspension or extension. And another seven have physical progress below 20%. The Ministry has already requested the Comptroller General's oversight for cases such as the Afro Museum, the Carmen Theater in Vivoral, and the César Conto Ferrer Theater in Quipdó. And the most painful part is still to come: the payments. As of August, 28.43 billion pesos had been certified but not yet paid." 16.42 billion pesos in grants and incentives, and 1201 million pesos for arts for peace. On top of that, the Ministry is carrying a backlog of 41.13 billion pesos in obligations from 2024 and 2025. These include resolutions that haven't been paid since February, agreements that haven't been paid since March, and incentives and grants that also haven't been paid since March. This bill wasn't signed by the current government, which has only been in office for a few weeks; it was signed by the previous administration. We know that a group of artists and organizations that won grants have called for a protest next Monday, September 21, in front of the Ministry, demanding payment of these disbursements. This demand is legitimate, and this government respects it, which is why it's worth explaining the difference with what happened before. In the previous administration, a large part of that money was held up without anyone saying anything or taking responsibility. Today, this backlog has a name, public figures, and an identified cause. Colombia faces a reality. The fiscal situation cannot be disguised, which is why the 2027 budget discussion must be grounded in reality . The Ministry's challenge is to improve execution, strengthen oversight, make accounts transparent, and seek new sources of funding, international cooperation, partnerships with the private sector, and other mechanisms. As Minister Paola Olguín summarized, when there's no money, creativity is key, but this government will not discuss the future of Colombian culture locked away in an office. The General Law of Culture is back on the table with all sectors because it must be a collective effort. The agenda is also moving forward with the regulations for the music law and the arts in the classroom law, both linked to the new national development plan around five key areas: safeguarding heritage and memory; dignifying and formalizing artists, artisans, and creators; cultivating new audiences; showcasing Colombian talent to the world; and strengthening cultural and creative industries. That is the crux of the matter. Culture is indeed a priority, but to protect it, resources must be managed well, because... A budget that isn't spent is useless. A grant that isn't paid for is useless, and a project that isn't finished is useless. That's what President de la Esplieella's government is doing through the Ministry of Culture: reviewing, organizing, making transparent, and returning public resources to those who make it possible for Colombia to continue creating. Every peso invested in culture must strengthen culture, not bureaucracy. Every day we are getting closer to the miracle of our nation.