17:43 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Feb. 25.
President Jose Maria Balcazar said the Executive Branch, regional governors, and mayors will act in a coordinated and effective manner to address emergencies caused by heavy rainfall nationwide, during a working meeting with regional and local authorities in Arequipa.
"I do not need much time to govern or to turn around the situation the country is facing (…) we must deliver a coordinated, multi-level response—from mayors and governors to the national government—to address the crisis we are confronting," he said.
The president noted the country's southern region can no longer be left behind and reaffirmed that his administration will prioritize integration and support for regions that have been historically neglected.
The Head of State indicated that the current climate emergency requires unity and coordination across all levels of government, without political differences.
"This climate crisis, marked by disasters, must bring us together. At this moment, we must set aside all political differences," he emphasized.
During the meeting, President Balcazar asked local authorities to formally submit the technical requirements to extend, if necessary, the state of emergency in certain affected districts.
He added that administrative procedures will be expedited to prevent emergency declarations from remaining merely formal acts without budget execution.
President Balcazar stressed that any measures adopted must be supported by technical justification and legal backing.
Furthermore, he announced that legal advisers from regional and local governments will be convened to ensure sound decisions that allow for a swift response to the population's needs.
"We must deliver a rapid response, and that is what we are working on so we can act immediately. I have not come to make political statements; I have come to address Arequipa from a technical standpoint," he stated.
Condolences
The Head of State also expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the heavy rains.
The top official assured them that the Peruvian State will be present during the most difficult moments.
"In the saddest and most painful moments for a family, the State is there as well to provide assistance," he expressed.
After the working meeting at the regional government headquarters, the President traveled to the Villa Continental settlement, in Cayma district—one of the areas affected by rainfall—where he inspected the damage and spoke with affected residents
Hours earlier, just minutes before his arrival in Arequipa, the president paid a posthumous tribute to three of the four crew members of the FAP Mi-17 helicopter that crashed on Sunday, February 22.
The ceremony was held at Peruvian Air Force (FAP) Air Wing No. 3 Base in the city of Arequipa.
(END) NDP/FHG/MVB
Publicado: 25/2/2026