[News] Cuba outlines fiscal, banking and communications measures amid intensified U.S. pressure

[Anti-Imperialist News]

telesurenglish.net
<https://www.telesurenglish.net/cuba-outlines-fiscal-banking-and-communications-measures-amid-intensified-u-s-pressure/>
Cuba outlines fiscal, banking and communications measures amid intensified
U.S. pressure - teleSUR English
teleSUR English
February 10, 2026
------------------------------

Cuba’s government detailed fiscal, banking and communications actions to
protect social services and economic stability amid intensified external
pressure.
Authorities detail budget priorities, financial safeguards and digital
strategies to sustain essential services and social protection.
------------------------------

Cuban authorities used a nationally broadcast Mesa Redonda program to
present a set of fiscal, banking and communications measures aimed at
preserving economic stability, essential public services and social
protection amid what officials described as an intensification of U.S.
actions against the country.

*RELATED: Cuba Denounces U.S. Aggressive Escalation at UN Human Rights
Council
<https://www.telesurenglish.net/cuba-denounces-recent-u-s-aggression-un/>*

According to the program’s official platform, the discussion brought
together Vice Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga and the ministers of
Labor and Social Security, Transport, Higher Education, and Education,
alongside the heads of Finance and Prices, the Central Bank, and
Communications. The stated objective was to explain concrete actions being
implemented across sectors to sustain the economy and protect the
population.

Finance and Prices Minister Vladimir Regueiro Ale placed the State budget
at the center of the government’s response, stressing that it continues to
guarantee universal and free access to education and public health, as well
as social security and social assistance, despite severe economic
constraints. “There is certainly a group of actions that have been adopted
to reaffirm the humanist role of our budget. It is a social budget because
it expresses the achievements of our Revolution,” he said.

Regueiro Ale explained that high levels of financing remain in key social
sectors, including education, higher education and transport, following a
reorganization and redesign of activity levels rather than the elimination
of services. “They are reaffirmed through a reordering and redesign of
activity levels, but they are guaranteed to our population, and this is
backed by the budget,” he stated.

He acknowledged that sustaining social protection requires stricter control
of public spending, calling it a shared responsibility across budgeted
entities, governments, managers and workers. The minister emphasized
rational use of resources, savings and the postponement of non-essential
expenditures to protect rights through the redistribution of budgetary
allocations.

The budget is also being used to stimulate productive activity,
particularly through the agricultural development fund, which supports food
production, local productive autonomy and territorial food security.
Regueiro Ale confirmed the continuation of tax benefits and fiscal waivers
to encourage production, including incentives for importing inputs and
strengthening productive linkages, and highlighted local renewable energy
projects that include tax exemptions until investment recovery.

*Text reads: Budgetary, banking and telecommunications actions in response
to the increase in US aggression*

On revenue, the minister reported projected growth in budget income,
allowing social spending to account for 66 percent of total expenditure,
mainly in education, health, social assistance and social security. He
confirmed a partial increase in pensions, acknowledging it does not fully
resolve existing challenges but represents a budgetary effort. “There is a
commitment to a partial increase in pensions that does not provide a total
solution, as has been explained on previous occasions, but it is also an
effort from the budget,” he said. For 2026, this increase is expected to
exceed 20 billion pesos, with monthly payments to pensioners guaranteed.

Regueiro Ale also addressed price irregularities, calling for real
price-setting processes based on negotiation, stronger participation of
workers’ collectives, and community involvement in oversight and reporting.

Central Bank President Juana Lilia Delgado Portal outlined measures to
ensure continuity of financial services, prioritizing population needs.
“The objective is to guarantee order and support for the most important
activities for the life of the country,” she said. Actions include
expanding energy self-sufficiency through photovoltaic systems in bank
branches, adjusting operating hours where alternative power is unavailable,
and maintaining key services such as salary and pension payments, cash
withdrawals, transfers and remittances.

She highlighted the promotion of digital payment channels and tools such as
the Ticket application to manage in-person services, as well as credit
facilities for photovoltaic systems, which have already benefited nearly
2,000 workers in strategic sectors. International payments remain
prioritized for fuel, medicines, food and productive inputs, while internal
controls are being reinforced to prevent fraud.

Communications Minister Mayra Arevich Marín described efforts to preserve
telecommunications, postal and information services under energy
constraints, linking them to the national digital agenda and artificial
intelligence strategy. She reported progress in battery replacement at
ETECSA, solar projects in telecommunications and postal services, and
coordination with the national electric utility, domestic industry and
local governments.

Authorities detailed the operation of public assistance channels and the
expansion of national digital platforms, including Transfermóvil, Enzona,
Todus, Picta, Apklis and the Soberanía government portal, alongside the
continuity of postal services, press distribution, radio and television.

Arevich Marín also highlighted the role of Joven Club de Computación in
digital literacy, community work, cybersecurity and the use of national
applications. Closing her remarks, she acknowledged the workforce’s efforts
during a challenging year: “I want to take advantage of the fact that we
are in the communicator’s day to congratulate our workers, who last year
worked very hard with great resilience to respond to all the difficulties
we have.”

Officials concluded that, despite economic and energy constraints, the
State budget, financial system and communications infrastructure are being
aligned to prioritize social protection, essential services and collective
participation as central pillars of national policy.
*At a glance: Key measures announced*

   - The State budget maintains universal and free access to education,
   public health and social protection, with social spending accounting for 66
   percent of total expenditure.
   - Social sectors continue operating through reorganization of activity
   levels, without eliminating services, alongside tighter collective control
   of public spending.
   - Public expenditure is being rationalized through savings, postponement
   of non-essential outlays and redistribution aligned with national
   priorities.
   - Fiscal tools remain in place to stimulate production, including
   support for agricultural development to increase food output and local
   autonomy.
   - Tax benefits and fiscal waivers continue for productive activities,
   including input imports and renewable energy projects, with tax exemptions
   until investment recovery.
   - Budget revenue growth is projected, enabling a partial pension
   increase in 2026 exceeding 20 billion pesos, with guaranteed monthly
   payments.
   - Tax discipline and revenue collection are reinforced as a collective
   responsibility, with stronger administrative and legal oversight.
   - Measures are in place to address price irregularities through
   negotiated pricing mechanisms and community participation.
   - The banking system guarantees essential services, supported by
   expanded use of photovoltaic systems, adjusted branch schedules and
   promotion of digital payments.
   - Credit facilities for photovoltaic systems have benefited nearly 2,000
   workers in strategic sectors.
   - International payments are prioritized for fuel, medicines, food and
   productive inputs, with enhanced internal controls to prevent fraud.
   - Telecommunications, postal services, radio and television are
   preserved as essential services, supported by renewable energy projects and
   national digital platforms.

Author: MK

Source: Cubadebate
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