Adnkronos Ancona, October 15 (Adnkronos/Labitalia) – "On the occasion of the National Congress of Engineers, the commissioner structure feels at home, because this professional category has always been at the forefront of an evolution that, after the uncertainties of the early years, has finally led the reconstruction to register a turning point." Guido Castelli, special government commissioner for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the 2016 and 2017 earthquakes in Central Italy, told Adnkronos/Labitalia on the sidelines of the 69th National Congress of the Orders of Engineers of Italy, currently underway in Ancona.
"Ours," he explains, "is a reconstruction that doesn't just repair the damage but also aims to reshape public and private heritage, as well as religious buildings, to make them safer, to make them worthy of the most innovative seismic engineering practices, and, more generally, to improve the quality and energy efficiency of our heritage."
"All this," emphasizes Special Commissioner Curcio, "means intertwining Italian engineering, which through reconstruction has created a true laboratory of innovative public engineering. We are here at the 69th National Congress precisely to share the results of this joint work, but above all to set ourselves new goals."
"Post-earthquake reconstruction in the Central Apennines is not just a repair project: it is a project that integrates urban regeneration, technological innovation, multilevel governance, and social participation."
"A model," he explains, "that starts from the inland areas and speaks to the entire country. A laboratory of rebirth, sustainability, and the future. Where reconstruction becomes prevention. Where communities not only return but reinvent themselves to stay. In the heart of Italy, there is a place that has endured the scars of the earthquake. But from that wound, a vision was born. Here, not only buildings are rebuilt, but communities are regenerated. Here, we experiment, innovate, and prevent. It is the Central Italy Laboratory. It is the Apennine Model. The crater is regenerated. And Italy looks forward."
As of May 31, 2025, requests for reconstruction funding amounted to 34.148, a 10% increase compared to 2024, for a total of over €15,8 billion. To date, €10,77 billion has been granted for private reconstruction, with settlements totaling over €6 billion, equivalent to over 60% in the last three years. These are the figures for the 2016 disaster, which affected 600,000 residents and left 20,000 residents homeless and benefiting from a form of housing assistance, as disclosed by Guido Castelli.
"12.737 construction sites out of 22.223 authorized have been completed," he emphasizes, "and 8.694 are currently underway. Over €4,6 billion has been allocated for public reconstruction, covering over 3.500 projects."