Senate President Manuel José Ossandón emphasized the importance of strengthening security around critical infrastructure during a visit to the Lo Valledor wholesale market on Monday, calling for increased state support for strategic private-sector facilities.
Ossandón was accompanied by Public Security Minister Luis Cordero during the visit to the bustling market in Santiago’s commune, where they met with market administrators to assess ongoing crime prevention efforts. The delegation reviewed the market’s surveillance system, including security cameras and patrols by both on-foot and motorized guards.
Lo Valledor, one of the country’s largest wholesale food distribution centers, supplies an estimated 60% of Chile’s population. It has been the site of past security concerns, including a high-profile 2023 incident in which a woman used a guard’s stolen firearm to shoot and injure three people after being denied entry for lacking identification. The attack occurred during a white march event aimed at reinforcing public access protocols.
Following the visit, Ossandón described the market as a critical component of Chile’s infrastructure that warrants state-level attention despite its private ownership.
“Lo Valledor plays a strategic role in national food distribution. While it is a private enterprise, the state must ensure such facilities are supported and protected,” Ossandón said. “As Senate President, I believe it’s our responsibility not only to legislate but also to represent the public, spotlight issues of national concern, and work collaboratively with executive authorities.”
Minister Cordero echoed the Senate President’s remarks, underscoring the market’s strategic value and commending its proactive security investments.
“If there were a formal law defining critical infrastructure, Lo Valledor would undoubtedly meet the criteria,” Cordero said. “Beyond its logistical significance, the market has become a model for security management through substantial investments in entry control systems, centralized surveillance, and biometric identification.”
Cordero added that other sectors could benefit from emulating Lo Valledor’s approach, suggesting that even sports organizations might learn from the market’s effective, law-compliant security framework.
Also on Monday, Ossandón received a series of formal diplomatic visits at the Senate, beginning with Electoral Service President Pamela Figueroa Rubio. He later met separately with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Chile, Yurii Diudin, and Ecuador’s Ambassador, Lotty Andrade Farah.
