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President of the Republic, Keiko Fujimori, announced S/800 million (about US$237 million) to strengthen the country's preparedness for heavy rains, droughts, and water-scarcity scenarios associated with El Niño phenomenon.
The Head of State attended the "Meeting with the National Board of Water Users' Organizations of Peru," held at the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) in Lima.
Within this framework, the top official said the Government is working on the various stages needed to address this climate phenomenon and reduce its potential impacts.
"We know that the El Niño phenomenon is already hitting, it has arrived with force; that is why it is so important to think about the three stages: preparedness, emergency, and then rehabilitation. These are three fundamental stages in which we have to be working as a team," Fujimori stated.
The Head of State, Midagri Minister Marco Vinelli, and the heads of the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA), the National Water Authority (ANA), the Subsectoral Irrigation Program (PSI), the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa), and Agro Rural participated in the meeting.
They listened to the demands and proposals by the chairmen of users' boards and coordinated responses to the needs raised by Peruvian regions.
Within this framework, the President announced that a decree will be published providing S/450 million (about US$133 million) to intervene in 380 critical points in Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Ancash, Lima, Ica, and Arequipa through measures such as riverbank defenses and waterway cleaning.
The top official announced that a supreme decree for S/350 million (about US$104 million) will be issued in the coming days to adopt measures in response to drought and water scarcity.
"I want you to know that we are already taking solutions, and we will invest everything we have to invest in order to move forward," Fujimori emphasized.
She also recalled that a commission has already been formed to address El Niño.
The group is chaired by Midagri's head and made up of the ministers of Defense; Economy and Finance; Housing, Construction and Sanitation; and Transportation and Communications.
Executing units
As part of the actions aimed at the agricultural sector, the President reported that S/45 million (about US$13 million) will be used through implementing units formed with users' boards, commissions, and committees to carry out canal cleaning and maintenance work.
In this regard, the Minister detailed that these units are located in Amazonas, Ancash, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Huanuco, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura, and San Martin regions. They will allow water infrastructure maintenance work to be carried out directly in coordination with users' organizations.
Meanwhile, the Head of State emphasized that the Executive Branch will maintain a direct relationship with farmers and their organizations to identify solutions and advance preparedness actions.
"We know that El Niño phenomenon will be a very difficult time for our country, but we also know that, by working as a team, hand in hand and directly with you, we will be better able to face adversity," she expressed.
Services for taxes
Next, the President announced that the Government will promote the "services for taxes" modality.
The aim is to involve the private sector in activities such as the removal of sediment and debris, in addition to the cleaning of waterways.
"Just as there are Works for Taxes, tax-funded services will be approved to complete all the desilting process," she clarified.
Regarding this measure, the Midagri head explained that this mechanism will allow private companies to carry out cleaning work.
He added that the Peruvian State will subsequently recognize the services provided once the corresponding legal provision has been approved.
Along these lines, the Head of State reaffirmed her administration's commitment to continue adopting the necessary decisions to protect populations and productive activities from the effects of this climate phenomenon.
"No El Niño phenomenon will be able to defeat us," she pointed out.
(END) NDP/RAI/JCR/MVB
Publicado: 19/8/2026