Two days before the eviction deadline set by the Valparaíso Court of Appeals, the Chilean government announced the expropriation of 100 of the 215 occupied hectares in the San Antonio megatoma to develop a housing project. The measure aims to prevent a humanitarian crisis for over 10,000 people living in the Cerro Centinela camp. The estimated cost is nearly 11 billion pesos, paid at 0.23 UF per square meter.
The San Antonio megatoma, known as Cerro Centinela, was formed in 2019 and houses 4,136 homes and 10,521 people, including over 3,000 children, adolescents, and youth. Families organized into 40 housing cooperatives, representing 90% of residents, and formed a federation to seek housing solutions.
The judicial conflict started in June 2023, when the Valparaíso Court of Appeals accepted a protection appeal from the owners, Constructora Inmobiliaria San Antonio, ordering the eviction of the 215 hectares. This ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court in March 2024, with a 30-day deadline expiring on December 4, 2025. The court instructed the San Antonio Municipality and ministries including Interior, Public Security, Housing, National Assets, and Social Development to provide temporary shelters.
In a press conference on December 2, 2025, Ministers Carlos Montes (Housing), Camila Vallejo (Segegob), and Álvaro Elizalde (Interior) announced the expropriation of lot 1-A, where most families are settled. "We will use all the tools provided by the rule of law to materialize this solution. This includes the expropriation of 100 of the 215 hectares," Montes said. The initiative follows failed negotiations with the owners, where the government offered 0.22 UF per square meter, but the proprietors demanded at least 0.4 UF, above market value.
Minister Elizalde noted that expropriation has been used in 258 decrees since 2018 to address social needs. The housing project, requested by the cooperatives, will occupy less than half the land, with shared financing from the families. Meanwhile, eviction will proceed on the 115 non-expropriated hectares, starting with areas unsuitable for construction. The government will present its action plan on December 4, including shelters at the Colegio España gymnasium for up to five days, with health support and a pet protocol. Mayor Omar Vera stated the operation could begin on January 4, 2026, to protect the holidays. "We will comply with what the Court determines, without failing in our duty to prevent a humanitarian crisis," Montes affirmed. As of now, the owners have not commented on the decision.