Summary
What the comuna hasSource: OpenStreetMap
Bulnes es una comuna ubicada en la provincia de Diguillín, perteneciente a la Región de Ñuble, en la zona central de Chile. Su capital, al igual que de la provincia, es la ciudad de Bulnes. Se ubica a 25 km de Chillán, capital regional. Limita al norte con la comuna de Chillán Viejo, al sur con la comuna de Pemuco, al este con San Ignacio y al oeste con Quillón.
Liveability index · EIU style
46.6 /100AuthoritiesWho leads the comuna, its council, sessions and lobbying requests
Mayor · 2024-2028Source: DecideChile · SERVEL

Mayoral history · 7 terms
SERVEL · TRICEL (1992-2008) · DecideChile (2024) · Wikidata (pre-1992)
Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL
Concejo MunicipalSource: DecideChile · SERVEL
Sesiones
En una línea: El concejo aprobó sumarse al proceso de distinción turística de SERNATUR, comprometió gastos de mantención de una plaza del programa Quiero Mi Barrio, renovó un comodato a la Agrupación de Mujeres de Santa Clara y adjudicó la licitación de viviendas de emergencia.
Temas tratados
- Distinción turística SERNATUR: Presentación del proceso para que Bulnes obtenga reconocimiento como municipio turístico comprometido con el desarrollo sostenible.
- Quiero Mi Barrio – Sargento Aldea/11 de septiembre: Solicitud de acuerdo para comprometer costos de operación y mantención de la plaza (PGO-2), requisito para aprobación técnica de SERVIU.
- Comodato Agrupación de Mujeres de Santa Clara: Prórroga de comodato sobre el inmueble municipal en calle Arturo Pratt s/n, sector Santa Clara (Lote 1C).
- Viviendas de emergencia: Adjudicación de licitación pública para suministro de viviendas de emergencia mejoradas.
- Sesión secreta: Exposición del encargado de Seguridad Pública; contenido no transmitido públicamente.
- Varios y comisiones: Peticiones de concejales y convocatoria a comisiones de trabajo.
Acuerdos y votaciones
- Distinción turística SERNATUR: Aprobada por unanimidad (5-0).
- Costos de mantención plaza Quiero Mi Barrio: Aprobada (4-0); concejal Ricardo Pavés se abstuvo por conflicto de interés (vive en el sector y participa en la junta de vecinos).
- Comodato Agrupación de Mujeres de Santa Clara: Aprobado (5-0).
- Licitación viviendas de emergencia: Aprobada (5-0); proveedor adjudicado sería el mismo de años anteriores (nombre no queda claro en la transcripción).
- Comisiones convocadas: Innovación y Desarrollo, Salud (viernes 26, 15:00 h) y Educación y Cultura (martes 26, 16:30 h), todas aprobadas por unanimidad.
Plata y obras
- Centro Comunitario Sargento Aldea (PGO-1): ~300 millones de pesos; ya aprobado por SERVIU en marzo 2026; 363 m².
- Plaza espacio de encuentro (PGO-2): ~177 millones de pesos; en revisión SERVIU; 3.140 m²; costo anual de mantención estimado en $1.200.000.
- Viviendas de emergencia: Oferta adjudicada: $1.416.xxx (media agua 3×3) y $3.189.200 (3×6); total por par ~$4.605.300 (cifras según transcripción, verificar exactitud).
- Nichos Santa Clara: Alcalde informó contrato firmado para construcción de ~30 nichos.
- Base SAMU: Inauguración anunciada para primeros días de julio (período exploratorio de 4 meses).
Puntos de debate o controversia
- Sector Tres Marías vs. concesionaria vial: Concejal Mireya Lorca expuso que vecinos llevan casi dos años sin solución de conectividad; el alcalde declaró postura confrontacional si la concesionaria no cumple sus compromisos.
- Cancha Tres Esquinas: Proyecto abandonado por administración anterior; el municipio está resciliando el convenio y existiría una línea de investigación penal en curso (personas vistas midiendo el terreno).
- Pequeños agricultores fuera de PRODESAL: Concejal Gina Hidalgo planteó que un segmento relevante queda sin apoyo técnico ni bonos; propuso crear una oficina agrícola municipal. El alcalde reconoció limitaciones presupuestarias para 2026 y remitió el tema al plan de acción 2027.
Para seguir
- Documentos para distinción SERNATUR deben subirse a plataforma antes del 30 de agosto; ceremonia de entrega entre el 6 y 9 de octubre en Chimbarongo.
- Transferencia de terrenos Quiero Mi Barrio pendiente de tramitación con apoyo de SEREMI.
- Concejal Pavés solicitó informe de todos los comodatos municipales (2023 a la fecha) y de beneficiarios de viviendas de emergencia en el mismo período.
- Concejal Oñate solicitó oficio a concesionaria vial por sitio eriázo en El Carmen y reparación de veredas críticas en Santa Clara.
- Concejal Campos instó a gestionar reunión con nueva administración de ferrocarriles por el deterioro del sector Estación y explorar programa de Mejoramiento de Fachada para barrios envejecidos.
- Reunión sobre explotación forestal en sector El Faro anunciada para el día siguiente a la sesión.
Summary generated by AI (claude-sonnet-4-6) from the official broadcast transcript · may contain inaccuracies
Official council minutesSource: CPLT · Active Transparency inventory (Law 20.285)
Official council minutesSource: CPLT · Active Transparency inventory (Law 20.285)
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 48 · 2026 ↗
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 49 · 2026 ↗
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 50 · 2026 ↗
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 51 · 2026 ↗
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 52 · 2026 ↗
- Publicación de sesiones ordinaria y extraordinarias con asistencia, acta y acuerdos por el Concejo Municipal de Bulnes N° 53 · 2026 ↗
Documents indexed from the Transparency Portal (Law 20.285); they link to the PDF published by the municipality.
What the council resolvesSource: Official minutes · AI extraction (ongoing)
What the council resolvesSource: Official minutes · AI extraction (ongoing)
| Resolution | Type | Amount | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 · Entrega en comodato a la junta de Vecinos Santa Cruz de Larqui una propiedad para postular a un proyecto de mejoramiento de vivienda y barrios. | Loan for use | — | unanimidad |
| 4 · Modificación presupuestaria para incorporar aporte municipal al presupuesto de educación y cancelar deudas con transportistas escolares. | Budget amendment | $43.000.000 | unanimidad |
| 4.1 · Aprobación del Programa de Salud Comunal - Bulnes año 2026 | Other | — | unanimidad |
| 4.1 · Aprobación de la modificación presupuestaria N*9 del Departamento de Educación Municipal para el año 2025. | Other | — | — |
Resolutions voted by the council, automatically extracted from the official minutes (extraction ongoing: coverage grows as the 94.917 indexed minutes are processed). May contain reading errors; the official document is the municipality's PDF.
Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory
Comptroller auditsSource: CGR · Municipal Observatory
| Year | Findings | Altam. | Compl. | Median. | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 |
| 2020 | 83 | 22 | 20 | 35 | 1 |
| 2019 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 2018 | 45 | 5 | 33 | 7 | 1 |
| 2017 | 82 | — | 27 | 46 | 1 |
CGR severity classification · audit findings on the municipality and its corporations
Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)
Who requests meetings with the municipalitySource: InfoLobby · CPLT (Law 20,730)
- AQAsesorías Quezada SpALobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2024
- CIConstructora Iraira LimitadaLobby / interest management · 4 audiencias · 2024
- MdMutual de Seguridad de la Cámara Chilena de la ConstrucciónLobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2016
- BEBanco EstadoLobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2015–2016
- MdMutual de Seguros de ChileLobby / interest management · 2 audiencias · 2024
- MBMaderas Bsc Ltda.,.Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- OTOpencluster Tech SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- BMBeatriz Mercado Estudio Juridico SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- crCoffe Restobar EymLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- SdSello de Reciclaje Mi Gran Chile SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- tmTelefonica Moviles Chile S.A.Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2017
- PRPozo, Ríos, Rodríguez y Torres Ltda. (Zecovery)Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- FSFedok SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- SMServicios Medicos Gare Ltda.Lobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- fdFarmacias del SurLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
- CdCampamento de Vivienda el EsfuerzoLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- cjConstructora Javier SalinasLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2016
- OSOndac SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- ECEspacio CubiertoLobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
- BSBeebrain SpALobby / interest management · 1 audiencia · 2024
Organisations that registered Lobby Law meetings with this municipality. Registering the meeting is mandatory for the official, so the list shows who asked to be heard, not whether they got anything.
PopulationWho lives here, how they study, their healthcare and more
Population and living conditionsSource: INE · CENSO · MINEDUC · ADIS
Population trend
How it has changedSource: Official INE series 2002–2026 (2017 base).
See the full trajectory to 2050 →INE projects comuna population only through 2035; the 2050 values are an own estimate by the monitor, anchored to the official INE 2050 national total (21,626,079 inhab, 32.1% aged 60+). Not an official comuna figure.
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School disengagement (leaves the system) | 1 % | MINEDUC 2023 |
| School enrollment | 286 students | MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024 |
| Municipal enrollment | 40 % | MINEDUC · aggregated by hexagons 2024 |
| PAES reading comprehension (DEMRE) | 583,5 pts | DEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026 |
| PAES mathematics M1 (DEMRE) | 610,2 pts | DEMRE · MINEDUC datos abiertos 2026 |
| poblacion_censo | 23.863 inh. | 2024 Census 2024 |
| Income poverty (CASEN 2022) | 12,7 % | CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022 |
| Pobreza multidimensional (CASEN 2022) | 10,1 % | CASEN 2022 · SAE Observatorio MDSF 2022 |
| Indigenous peoples | 4,08 % | 2024 Census 2024 |
The PAES year is that of the admission process: the test is sat in November of the previous year. The average covers only those who registered to apply to university —not every secondary-school graduate— and groups them by the comuna of the school they graduated from, not by where the student lives. Here it rests on 365 students registered for the PAES.
Registro Social de Hogares
| Elderly (60+) | 6.321 | 26% |
| Children and adolescents (<18) | 4.986 | 20% |
| Foreign nationals | 194 | 1% |
| Belonging to indigenous peoples | 572 | 2% |
| People with moderate/severe dependency | 360 | 1% |
| Single-person households | 4.994 | 42% |
A monthly administrative snapshot of the Social Household Registry (self-registration to access benefits), as of abril 2026. The "bracket 40" is the socioeconomic rating of the most vulnerable 40%. It is a registry, not a survey: it complements CASEN (biennial) with fresh data, but well-off comunas under-register. Source: ADIS, Ministry of Social Development and Family.
School educationSource: MINEDUC Open Data 2025
Aggregate of all the comuna's schools (RBD → comuna). Pass/withdrawal and attendance are from the 2025 school year. SIMCE is not published as open data (managed by the Quality Agency, by request only); the available quality proxy is passing, dropout and attendance. The PAES result appears in the social section.
Municipal healthcare (primary care)Source: SINIM · MINSAL / FONASA
Specialties with services recorded at the comuna's public facilities (REM DEIS, 2024). These are services performed, not doctor headcount. Excludes the private network.
REM-26 section A (DEIS/MINSAL): comprehensive family visits, summed across the comuna's facilities. The last year is partial while DEIS consolidates monthly reports.
| Center | Type | Provider type | Enrollees | % brackets A-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro de Salud Familiar Santa Clara | Family Health Center (CESFAM) | Municipal | 8.715 | 63% |
| Hospital Comunitario de Salud Familiar de Bulnes | Hospital | Health Service | 7.666 | 63% |
| Centro Comunitario de Salud Familiar Tres Esquinas | Community Family Health Center (CECOSF) | Municipal | 428 | 66% |
FONASA brackets A-B ≈ lowest incomes (A: without resources). Source: FONASA, as of Dec 31, 2025, DEIS code.
Indigenous peoplesSource: 2024 Census (INE) · CONADI via IDE SMA
| People | People | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Mapuche | 918 | 94.3% |
2024 Census: people who consider themselves as belonging to an indigenous people (small counts are suppressed for confidentiality at the source and not shown). Communities: CONADI national registry as of March 2024 — Araucanía and Los Lagos not refreshed in that update, the count is a floor. Land grants: 2022 registry.
Community organizationSource: RPJSFL Civil Registry (Law 20.500/19.418) · as of Jun 2026
All the comuna's active non-profit legal entities (Law 20.500 / 19.418), classified by organization name. It portrays the civil fabric: not just neighborhood councils, also committees, sports clubs, cultural and elderly groups, foundations and fire brigades.
4 Local media · 2 Comunitaria · 2 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)
4 Local media · 2 Comunitaria · 2 FMSource: SUBTEL · broadcasting licences · Regional Media Survey (MSGG)
| Local media | Type | dial |
|---|---|---|
| CCAMELIA | FM | 93.5 FM |
| DFDIGITAL FM2 | FM | 90.1 FM |
| AAAgrupacion Ambiental y Social Amet · holder | Comunitaria | 107.3 FM |
| OdObispado de Chillan Parroquia de Bulnes · holder | Comunitaria | 107.7 FM |
The dial (frequency) of every FM, AM and community radio with a studio in the comuna (SUBTEL, active sound broadcasting concessions). National networks appear in their headquarters' comuna, not necessarily where they broadcast. When SUBTEL records no brand name, its holder (the concession holder).
Foreign-born populationSource: 2024 Census · INE
International immigrants per the 2024 Census (people born outside Chile living in the comuna). Nationwide they are 1,608,650 people, 8.8% of the population.
Housing and housing deficitSource: MINVU (Encampment Registry + 2024 Census deficit + subsidies) · INE
Encampments: MINVU National Registry 2024 (irregular settlements and the families living in them). Quantitative deficit: homes missing per the 2024 Census (doubling-up + unrecoverable overcrowding). Permits: new homes authorized by the Works Directorate in 2024 (INE) — measures future construction, not stock. Subsidies: MINVU by application comuna — DS49 accrues beneficiaries by resolution year; DS01 and DS52 accrue payments by application cohort (national totals in the source file differ ~1–6% from the comuna sum; the comuna series is published).
What the homes are like
Housing type: 2017 Census · tenure: 2002 Census (INE).
Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA
Elderly careSource: Chile Cuida · National Assets / SENAMA
Long-stay facilities for the elderly registered in Chile Cuida. Comunas without ELEAM send their elders to other comunas. With projected ageing (see Demographic projection), this capacity defines whether one can age in one's own comuna.
ResourcesBudget, spending, municipal procurement and more
Budget and revenue sourcesSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Ingreso total y desglose de ingresos propios
Total revenue · trend (2001–2025)
Own revenue breakdown (IPP) · 2025
Special-law revenues · 2025
Distributed by law to specific comunas; they arrive via transfers.
Revenue by sector · 2025
Municipal Common Fund balance · 2025
Evolución por fuente de ingreso
Permanent own revenue (IPP) · trend
FCM received · trend
State transfers · trend
Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Municipal spending and budget executionSource: SINIM · SUBDERE
Accrued spending · trend
Distribution by management area · 2025
What the budget is spent on · 2025
| Spending line | Amount | % of spending | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods and services (operations) · supplies, contracts, maintenance | $3.690.563.000 | 36.4% | |
| Municipal healthcare (primary care) · comuna health-sector spending | $3.374.030.000 | 33.3% | |
| Municipal personnel · municipal wages and fees | $2.472.351.000 | 24.4% | |
| Transfers to education | $965.118.000 | 9.5% | |
| Cleaning, garbage and landfills · waste collection and disposal | $950.034.000 | 9.4% | |
| Electricity (facilities) | $575.001.000 | 5.7% | |
| Investment (works and projects) | $345.078.000 | 3.4% | |
| Transfers to health | $145.917.000 | 1.4% | |
| Councillor stipends | $73.474.000 | 0.7% | |
| Water (facilities) | $60.196.000 | 0.6% | |
| Travel allowances | $26.960.000 | 0.3% | |
| Street lighting | $25.823.000 | 0.3% |
Share of total accrued spending. Lines overlap (personnel sits inside several areas), so they don't add to 100%. Source: SINIM.
Personal y dotación municipal
Spending composition · 2025
Personnel by contract type · 2025
Municipal headcount · 2023
Municipal staff by contract status (SINIM, 2023). Cost per staffer = annual spending of the type ÷ same-year headcount.
Inversión, servicios básicos y obras
Investment and authorities' expenses · 2025
Basic and general services · 2025
Final works approvals (DOM) · per year
Building permits issued · per year
What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data
Open profile in Monitor Mercado Público ↗
What it buys · Mercado PúblicoSource: ChileCompra · open data
Purchase-order amount · trend
| Top suppliers | Amount | POs |
|---|---|---|
| Altramuz Limitada | $7.161.763.944 | 200 |
| Empresa de Servicios Himce Limitada | $5.690.794.348 | 8 |
| Agrocopihue | $2.386.663.329 | 7.602 |
| Constructora y Servivios Integrales de Arquitectur | $1.627.360.470 | 1 |
| Constructora Nahen Ltda. | $854.999.021 | 2 |
| Constrcutora, Obras Civiles e Ingeniería, Guillerm | $674.916.959 | 1 |
| Juan Ramon | $635.660.036 | 6 |
| Copec S.A. | $629.897.238 | 131 |
Purchase mechanism · 2026
| Tender | $2.404.434.114 | 74% |
| Agile Purchase | $461.486.505 | 14% |
| Framework Agreement | $301.710.828 | 9% |
| Direct award discretionary | $87.056.807 | 3% |
Companies and economic activitySource: SII · company statistics and roster (domicile/HQ)
Pyramid by sales bracket
Largest companies domiciled in the comuna
| Company | Line of business | Sales bracket | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curimapu Produccion y Exportacion Limitada | COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARAC | Large 4 (>1M UF) | 317 |
| Comercial de Campo S a | INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERA | Large 3 | 256 |
| Agroexportaciones Chile S.A. | COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARAC | Large 2 | 1.020 |
| Sucesion Salvador Yanine Abadi SpA | INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERA | Large 2 | 130 |
| Curimapu Vegetable Seeds SpA | COMERCIO AL POR MAYOR Y AL POR MENOR; REPARAC | Large 2 | 106 |
| Agricola e Inversiones el Roble Limitada | AGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCA | Large 2 | 99 |
| Comercial Ramos Hermanos Limitada | INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERA | Large 2 | 78 |
| Compania Molinera Centro - Sur Limitada | INDUSTRIA MANUFACTURERA | Large 2 | 64 |
| Soc Comercial Curimapu S a | AGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCA | Large 2 | 11 |
| Sociedad Agricola los Tilos Limitada | AGRICULTURA, GANADERIA, SILVICULTURA Y PESCA | Large 1 | 136 |
SII roster of legal entities (public). Due to tax secrecy sales come in brackets, never amounts. The comuna is that of the domicile/HQ: operations may be elsewhere.
Investment in SEIA projects
| Project | Owner | Status | Investment (US$M) | Constr. jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Mocha SolarDIA | La Mocha Solar SpA | Approved | 160 | 646 |
| Proyecto Sistema de Almacenamiento BESS Lucero y Línea de Transmisión DIA | África Solar SpA | Approved | 73,6 | 50 |
| PSF Cuarto MenguanteDIA | Cuarto Menguante SpA | Approved | 17 | 60 |
| Larqui SolarDIA | Larqui Solar SpA | Approved | 12 | 60 |
| Bulnes SolarDIA | Bulnes Solar SpA | Approved | 12 | 60 |
| Parque Fotovoltaico Aura, BulnesDIA | Parque Solar Aura SpA | Approved | 10,5 | 30 |
| Parque Solar ArisDIA | Parque Solar Aris SpA | Approved | 9 | 60 |
| Parque Fotovoltaico BulnesDIA | Sayen Fotovoltaica SpA | Approved | 9 | 75 |
| EXTRACCIÓN Y PROCESAMIENTO DE ÁRIDOS LOS TILOSDIA | Sociedad Áridos y Asfaltos Serviter | Under Review | 7 | 25 |
| Línea de Transmisión 1x66 kV Montenegro - LuceroDIA | Sistema de Transmisión del Sur S.A. | Approved | 6,197 | 150 |
| Construcción Puente Cerro Negro, Comunas de Quillón y Bulnes, Región dDIA | Ministerio de Obras Públicas | Under Review | 4,335 | 150 |
| Plantel Productor Avícola BulnesDIA | Sociedad Avícola Evita Ltda. | Approved | 4 | 20 |
Investment DECLARED by the owner upon entering SEIA (not necessarily materialized; the RCA expires after 5 years without works). Multi-comuna projects: prorated investment, jobs counted in full. Jobs = declared peak labor (source PRISMA/SOFOFA). Source: e-SEIA + PRISMA.
TerritoryClimate, biodiversity, national heritage, SEIA-approved projects and more
Roads and motorwaysSource: OpenStreetMap · 2026 snapshot
Road infrastructure of the MOP and concession holders, not the municipality: it measures how much highway crosses the territory, not municipal management. Only comunas with roads of this category are counted.
Biodiversity and protected areasSource: SNASPE · SEIA baselines
Species of flora, fauna and funga documented in the baselines of the projects evaluated by SEIA in the comuna — what their environmental studies recorded in the territory. Conservation status (RCE/IUCN) and Chilean endemism are flagged.
CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened (Species Classification Regulation / IUCN). ★ endemic to Chile. Extracted from SEIA studies by kingdom; presence reflects what baselines characterized, not a census.
2 Wetlands · 2 urban · 353 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)
2 Wetlands · 2 urban · 353 haSource: National Wetlands Inventory · SIMBIO (MMA)
| Code | Wetland | Hectares |
|---|---|---|
| HUR-16-30 | Sist. Rios Itata- Nuble y Trib.urban | 342 /11.109 |
| HUR-16-25 | Embalse Bulnes Costaso Ruta N-48urban | 11 |
Area = hectares of wetland within the comuna boundary (apportioned using the DPA table of each record). For wetlands shared between comunas, "portion / total" is shown. "Urban" = urban wetland (HUR code). Official source migrated to the SBAP (Law 21,600).
Large projects approved by SEIASource: SEIA · approved projects
Projects with an environmental permit (RCA) approved by SEIA and declared investment above US$ 10 million, located in the comuna according to the case file and grouped by sector. Every sector with at least one project is listed: this is not a ranking or a selection. 14 projects totaling US$ 698 million, approved between 1997 and 2026. When a project spans several comunas, its investment is split among them.
Approved is not the same as built or operating: the RCA authorises the project, but some were never carried out and others have since closed.
Source: projects with an RCA approved by SEIA (investment declared by the developer, split among the comunas the project spans). Under each sector are its two largest projects by investment. It is the best public proxy for large industrial sites; SERNAGEOMIN’s registry of active mining operations (by mineral and type of operation) is a layer not yet incorporated.
Basic utilitiesSource: SISS · CNE · MINEDUC
Almost no comuna has its own utility: it is served by a major regional concession holder. Water = urban operational territory (SISS; rural goes via APR); electric = concession distributor per the tariff decree (CNE); higher education = university, IP and CFT campuses (MINEDUC/SIES), with the nearest comuna when there are none.
Environmental conflictsSource: SNIFA · SMA + Environmental Search · Environmental Courts
Appeals before the Environmental Courts
| Case no. | Parties / project | Subject | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| 252714-2023 ↗ 3TA | SOPRAMAT SpA con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente Extracción Mecanizada de Áridos desde el Cauce del Río Diguillín - Sector Los Tilos ÁRIDOS SOPRAMAT | Environmental sanction proceeding | Procedural cassation inadmissible and substantive cassation rejected |
| R-6-2023 ↗ 3TA | Lácteos San Ignacio S.A con Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente Planta de tratamiento de Riles mediante Sistema Tohá Lácteos San Ignacio Ltda | Lapse of the sanctioning process | Upheld |
| 36140-2017 ↗ 3TA | Comité Bulnes sin Termoeléctrica con Comité de Ministros. Central El Campesino | Untimeliness | Rejects |
Appeals resolved by the Environmental Courts (Law 20.600) on the comuna's projects or facilities, geolocated by the associated project (SEIA) or sanctioned facility (SMA). Partial coverage: Supreme Court appeals and cases without a locatable act are excluded. Source: 1st Environmental Court's Environmental Search.
Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)
Green areasSource: SINIM · SUBDERE (2025)
Municipally maintained green area per inhabitant (SINIM). The National Urban Development Council recommends a minimum of 10 m²/inhab (WHO, ~9). Self-reported by municipalities, with quality varying across comunas.
Territorial burdensSource: SUBDERE (waste, Jun 2023) · Gendarmería (Jun 2025) · SISS (WWTP)
Territorial burdensSource: SUBDERE (waste, Jun 2023) · Gendarmería (Jun 2025) · SISS (WWTP)
Infrastructure this comuna carries — often serving others.
| Facility | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| C.C.P. Bulnes | Prison (CCP) | |
| C.P.F. Bulnes | Prison (CPF) | 91 inmates · 43 convicted · 48 awaiting trial · 88% occupancy |
Official registries: they exclude illegal dumps and rural WWTPs (no consolidated public registry).
Forest firesSource: CONAF · Occurrence and damage statistics (2023-2024)
Occurrence and area affected by wildfires (CONAF). The 5-season cumulative gives a fairer picture than a single year: fire is episodic and big catastrophes concentrate in few seasons. The area is comuna-wide, not just urban.
Winter riskSource: SENAPRED · winter critical points 2026 (via FAU U. de Chile)
Points in the comuna where SENAPRED identifies winter-rain risk (channel overflows, flooding, collector collapse, landslides, mudflows, snow), with risk level and the agency responsible for the fix.
Water scarcitySource: DGA · MOP (scarcity-zone decrees)
DGA water-scarcity zone decrees (by comuna, province or region; basin decrees are not counted here, so chronicity is a floor). The decree enables extraordinary water redistribution measures. At the megadrought's peak (2021) 286 comunas were under decree; today 26.
Climate and climate changeSource: ARClim · MMA + CR2/UC (CMIP6 modeling)
Modeled climatology (CMIP6 downscaling ~5 km): present ≈ 1980-2010, projection ≈ 2035-2065 middle scenario. Not recent weather observation.
SafetyCrime, road crashes and municipal security infrastructure
Crimes (police cases)Source: CEAD · Ministry of Public Security
| Crime | Cases | Rate/100k |
|---|---|---|
| Threats | 224 | 984 |
| Domestic violence | 213 | 936 |
| Alcohol and drug use in public spaces | 151 | 664 |
| Property damage | 139 | 611 |
| Larceny | 96 | 422 |
| Minor injuries | 80 | 352 |
| Burglary of an uninhabited place | 78 | 343 |
| Burglary of an inhabited place | 70 | 308 |
| Theft of items from vehicles | 33 | 145 |
| Weapons-related crimes | 26 | 114 |
| Crimes and offenses under the arms law | 22 | 97 |
| Sexual abuse | 21 | 92 |
Showing the 12 crimes with most cases of 26.
Police cases (reports + arrests) recorded by Carabineros and PDI. Not victimization (ENUSC measures the real figure, higher due to underreporting). The rate uses INE 2024 population. Source: CEAD, Ministry of Public Security.
What the municipality does
Municipal security infrastructure and staff declared to SINIM (since 2016). Excludes Carabineros and PDI, which are national.
Road crashesSource: CONASET · Data Observatory (2024)
Crashes georeferenced by CONASET (urban + highway) during 2024. The only per-comuna source; covers ~70% of the country's deaths (non-geolocatable ones are excluded), so it slightly underestimates the total. Pedestrian collision is the leading cause of pedestrian death.