Marcela Aguiñaga, the prefect of Guayas in Ecuador, has voiced her concerns about being excluded from the discussions surrounding the reforms to the Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización (Cootad). Aguiñaga has stated that despite her requests to participate in the National Assembly's Economic Development Committee before the initial debate report was finalized, she was not granted the opportunity. This has raised questions about the legitimacy of the process, especially since the outcome significantly affects local governments (GADs) and their management of local jurisdictions.

During her remarks on Radio Centro, she highlighted that discussions regarding regulations affecting decentralized autonomous governments cannot proceed without the input of those who manage these territories. Aguiñaga has criticized the government's proposal as overly centralist, arguing that it fails to accurately reflect local conditions and needs. Her comments point to a broader concern that without proper representation and dialogue, the interests of local populations may be overlooked in favor of a more uniform, top-down approach to governance.

Furthermore, Aguiñaga indicated that while she supports increasing the budget allocation for investments—potentially up to 75%—she expressed her dissatisfaction with the proposal's narrow focus on expenditure amounts without considering their quality. She contended that the reforms should take into account various factors, including social services, emergency needs, and the actual capacities of the local governments. Her insights reflect the challenges faced by regional leaders in ensuring that legislative frameworks accommodate the complexities of local governance and fiscal management, especially in the wake of ongoing socio-economic challenges in Ecuador.