The President of the Republic, Keiko Fujimori, called on regional and local authorities to strengthen collaboration across all three levels of government. The goal is to address the urgent needs of the population, advance pending projects, and develop medium- and long-term solutions that contribute to the well-being of Peruvian families.
“We must come together again—all three levels of government working in tandem. That is the only way we will move forward,” the president stated during the inauguration of the drinking water and sewage systems for the N-31 reservoir in the Cerro Colorado district, Arequipa region.
In this context, the head of state noted that the country faces significant challenges, including the arrival of the El Niño phenomenon and the need to unblock infrastructure projects that have remained stalled or postponed for years.
Given this situation, she emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts to address the public’s priorities. “The objective is to tackle urgent matters, as well as medium- and long-term goals—working institutionally and as a team,” she maintained.
During her remarks, President Fujimori expressed her satisfaction with the inauguration of the sanitation infrastructure, which will improve access to drinking water and sewage services for more than 30,000 residents of Cerro Colorado—a development long-awaited for 15 years.
She also acknowledged the efforts of the authorities and local leaders who championed the project, as well as the work carried out by the Minister of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation, Mauricio Arnillas, to secure the necessary funding and bring this important initiative to fruition.
Furthermore, the president expressed her gratitude for the support provided by the World Bank, highlighting that access to drinking water is a fundamental benefit for family health—particularly for children—as it contributes to the fight against anemia.
“Water does not only bring life; because it is transparent, water carries no political bias. Water brings health—most importantly, it supports the care and attention we must provide to our children. Water is the most vital tool in the fight against anemia,” she stated.
Addressing the needs of Cerro Colorado
Furthermore, the Head of State announced that Cecilia Castro, head of the Agency for the Formalization of Informal Property (Cofopri), will visit Cerro Colorado to advance the physical and legal regularization of land titles—an initiative aimed at providing legal security to families.
In this regard, she noted that she had received requests from neighborhood leaders and local authorities to address long-overdue projects for roads and sidewalks, the completion of which will improve accessibility and transit conditions in the area.
The President then linked these needs to the economic measures announced by the government for 2027, which include an additional 18 billion soles (around $ 5.2 billion) earmarked for addressing the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon and rising fuel prices, as well as for boosting infrastructure and economic activity.
Finally, the President highlighted the perseverance of the leaders in Cerro Colorado and acknowledged the efforts of the technical teams at Sedapar, whose involvement made the sanitation infrastructure a reality.
“I am grateful to the leaders who never gave up. It is through their perseverance and tenacity that this project has been made possible,” she said.
Before concluding her remarks, President Fujimori pledged to return to Cerro Colorado for the formal handover of property titles and the inauguration of the road and sidewalk projects requested by the local community.
Closing the sanitation gap
For his part, Minister Arnillas highlighted the government’s ongoing work to unblock projects and expand access to basic services in Arequipa.
“We are working hard throughout the region to provide something as fundamental as potable water and sewage systems—services that people have been waiting for for such a long time,” he stated.
In this regard, he reaffirmed the commitment to achieving 100% coverage of these services in the region and highlighted the Executive branch’s support for continuing to advance the remaining projects for the benefit of the population.
“The president’s mandate was very clear: ‘Mauricio, provide water and sewage systems throughout Peru.’ So, that is what we are working toward,” he said.
Furthermore, the minister noted that the Government’s efforts aim to expand access to potable water, sewage systems, property titles, and paved roads and sidewalks for families who still lack these services and infrastructure.
Coordinated Effort
For his part, the Regional Governor of Arequipa, Rohel Sánchez, highlighted the outcomes of the joint work carried out across the three levels of government, emphasizing the importance of maintaining this coordination to address the population's primary needs.
“When there is a coordinated effort across the three levels of government, you see the products—the results,” the regional official stated, echoing the sentiments expressed by President Fujimori.
In this regard, he acknowledged the contribution of the institutions that made the completion of the drinking water and sewage infrastructure projects in the Apipa and José Luis Bustamante y Rivero sectors possible, as well as the decision by Minister Mauricio Arnillas to push for their operational launch.
The governor explained that access to these services will pave the way for the subsequent construction of roads and sidewalks, thereby improving the living conditions of local residents.
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of continuing to work in a coordinated manner to tackle issues such as anemia and chronic childhood malnutrition.
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Published: 10/23/2026