Speech
Abelardo de la Espriella  ·  2026-08-14 22:17

Declaración del presidente Abelardo De La Espriella, al término del PMU en Pereira, Risaralda

Good afternoon, dear journalist friends. At this time we have 41,600 affected families in Pereira. 140,000 people affected, 259 injured, 94 dead, 260 missing and 260 rescued. Our prayers and all our will are with those missing people. We hope, with God's help, to find them alive. And of course, all our solidarity goes out to the families of the 94 people who died in Pereira. Look, I know the situation is apocalyptic. Walking through downtown Pereira, walking through the city, makes your heart ache, but Colombians are used to rising to the challenge in the face of adversity, and let's just say we've never had it easy. And believe me, this situation won't be too much for us. We will do everything necessary from the national government to rebuild our country. And we all do that reconstruction together . In a meeting with the mayor, the governor, and the rest of the municipal and departmental authorities, we have determined that all the requirements requested by the national government have arrived in the department of Risaralda. I want to give special recognition to my wife, the first lady, who has handled all the humanitarian aid issues, and there is not a single municipality in the department where that aid has not arrived. My love, thank you for that work. [applause] 90 tons of humanitarian aid through the First Lady's office and we continue sending and we're not going to stop, we're going to keep working. Look, this situation in Pereira and the department requires special action. Therefore, everything this wonderful land requires for its reconstruction will be included in the economic emergency that I will present next week. And I take this opportunity to make a very important announcement because God is perfect. The new director of the national planning department will be a native of Pereira, Julián Buitrago, [applause] who from that important department of the Ministry of Finance will be working on the development plan to rebuild Pereira and Risaralda and to rebuild Colombia and to make and build together the miracle homeland. Rest assured that this government is with you. We will not leave them alone and we will continue working. There will be solutions in the rental subsidy for those people who have lost their homes. We are going to rebuild the homes that have been affected, the public buildings, the schools, the hospitals. In the midst of this terrible crisis, we have a great opportunity to rise like the Phoenix from the ashes, and for that, we have a government that holds Pereira, Risaralda, and this wonderful region in its heart. Let's move forward. I know the situation is difficult, but Colombians are capable with God's help and the support of a government that is committed to the regions. Together we are capable of rebuilding this country, which deserves all the effort we can make for it. May God bless Pereira and Risaralda and give us the strength to continue fighting with fervor and determination in building this miraculous homeland where Pereira and Risaralda are fundamental. Today more than ever I stand firm for Risaralda, firm for Pereira and firm for the homeland. May God bless this land.