Photo:Ovidio González - Presidency

President Abelardo De La Espriella reiterated his commitment to the victims of the earthquake in Valle del Cauca. The President stated that this tragedy is the opportunity to unite Colombian society.

Buga, Valle del Cauca, September 5, 2026

The greetings are longer than the announcement because I am brief, clear, concise, I do not come from politics, I come from the private sector and I like to resolve without so much speech, without so much rant; solutions for people, which is what you need. Do you want speeches or solutions? Well, here is El Tigre, who brings it on, once and for all.

​Today I am again in Valle del Cauca, because from the first day of this tragedy I assumed a commitment to all Colombians, I assumed a commitment to the country and to the people affected.

We are not going to let a single person or a single family go through work after the emergency. The first task, as you know, was to save lives, care for the wounded and guarantee humanitarian aid. Today I am here with the First Lady (Ana Lucía Pineda), who also wore the shirt from day one.

A round of applause for this woman who has not stopped for a second, and we will continue bringing humanitarian aid. Thank you, my beautiful life, therefore.

Now we are entering with the full force of the State into the second great mission, dear compatriots.

Rebuild what the earthquake destroyed and help all families recover their life project. Because a house not only has four walls and some furniture; It is the home where we build our dreams, where we deal with problems, get solutions. Home is the safe place where a human being always returns wanting to recharge.

I spend the whole day outside, touring the country, and I recharge, of course, with your love. But what boosts my power, my battery, is meeting my children and my wife there at home. And that's more than four walls, it's a home.

So not only are we going to help rebuild houses; We are going to help homes be sustained, maintained, because the house is the cornerstone.

So they are going to have the solutions. And today, as the first important announcement, I want to say the following: We are going to protect the spiritual symbols of the Colombian people.

And I say this with deep affection and affection. I am a devotee of Buga's Negrito. I believe that no president in the history of Colombia has come to the Basilica as many times as I have.

It is my fourth or fifth time in the Basilica. And I will continue coming, because every time I see Negrito, I gain strength to continue fighting for Colombia, to continue fighting for the country and to resolve for our people, which is what needs to be done.

We already have 1.2 billion pesos to fix our Basilica of the Lord of Miracles. And we are working with the private sector to get 5,000 million more to rebuild and fix our Basilica and to be able to hold masses there, to be able to honor our Negrito and defend that symbol of faith and spirituality that means so much to us Colombians.

​So between one and the other we are going to get 6.2 billion pesos, governor, for our beloved Basilica of the Lord of Miracles. How do they see it?

We are also going to rebuild the ITA (Agricultural Technical Institute) agricultural educational institution in Buga. The Ministry of Education has already managed and executed the request I made. I told them: we have to recover the agricultural educational institution ITA and we are going to do it with 23,000 million pesos to recover the affected blocks and return to all the students the conditions they deserve.

In issues as complex as housing, which I mentioned a while ago, we have already moved from words to actions. In Buga we will have 110 housing improvements for 2.5 billion pesos, which have already been approved.

Added to this are the homes provided by the private sector for the affected families. And here we have the first little house; Come on, let's give it to you at once. This is the first house that fell down here that we are going to rebuild, and here is this help. The private company, tell us, come, please, thank you very much.

Representative of the private sector: Mr. President, good morning, we are very pleased to join this campaign to rebuild the Patria Milagro. We are going to deliver a house, 50 square meters, made with a structural block made from 100% recycled plastic.

Not only do we help decontaminate the planet from plastic, but we reduce the carbon footprint by 97% and the water footprint by 90%. In this way we are providing a dignified and sustainable solution.

President De La Espriella:And the house is anti-seismic. Because it is not only about rebuilding, but about doing it well. We have to give you homes that resist an earthquake. God forbid, I hope it doesn't happen again. But the opportunity to rebuild means we can build better.

So we have the first house and we are going to deliver 10 more houses, including the ones that fell. So we are going to build those houses and we are going to do it in the best way.

Who is this first house for? To the family that is already in the planada there? Very good. Where is that family? Rosita, whose house is that? Where is Inés Rojas? In front. Come, come. And we will have it ready in one month from the moment of delivery of the lot.

When do they deliver the lot to us? Are you ready? Well then, let's see. But, be careful, because with me the dates come true. Please, Madam Regional Manager, Mr. Office Manager, sign up here to come and deliver the house to Inés within 30 days, not one more day. It may be less, but not more. It's not possible anymore.

Inés, and five more from the Argos Foundation. When do we start making them? It takes us three weeks or a month to get to Pueblo Nuevo. A round of applause. So we came to rebuild Pueblo Nuevo. Thank you, Ines.

Thank you. Thanks my love. Hey, when the house is ready, Inés, when it's ready, invite me to a sancocho valluno and we'll inaugurate it. And with my favorite dessert, which is manjar blanco.

Look, for the entire Valle del Cauca we are also making progress in delivering 300 property titles. And we are managing 3,265 million pesos in subsidies so that 64 families can access rural housing. And there is one thing we cannot stop doing if we want to rebuild a region, and that is rebuild the economy. And this is an announcement, a 'chiva', there, for journalists.

40,000 million pesos are being invested to raise micro-businesses, businesses and tourist activities affected by the earthquake. We are going to do it through the Ministry of Commerce. How do they see it? Of these resources, nearly 30,000 million will be mobilized in credit to help pay payrolls, rents, suppliers and inventories. And to recover premises, machinery and productive assets. How do they see it?

And something very important: there will be close to 10,000 million pesos in seed capital for those who want to start their venture. So here we have to make a list to see how many want to start a business and give them that seed capital.

We are happy to help you. This tragedy is an opportunity to reunite as a society, as a country, to put political differences aside. The campaign has already passed. I am now the President of everyone and I am going to help everyone without political distinctions. I'm not interested.

The campaign has already passed. You have a President, and whenever you need us the Government will be here to help you.

And I want to tell you: if more humanitarian aid is required, here is the First Lady, all you have to do is tell her; What's more, right? Let's make a special shipment. Seem to you? Come, announce something for Pueblo Nuevo, then. What can we send?

First Lady, Ana Lucía Pineda: Well, we can continue sending humanitarian aid that includes markets for the family, hygiene kits and also kits for the night, if they still need mattresses. Well, let's send. We need to know how many markets they need and we will send them tomorrow.

President De La Espriella:And some toys for the naked ones. Of course, the balls, the President's balls. Who wants Tiger balls? Well, balls are also coming and some markets.

Thanks my love. I want to tell you, with my hand on my heart, with a spirit full of responsibility for what corresponds to us, that we are working in an articulated manner with the Government, with the Mayor's Office, to improve every day, help in the reconstruction and, of course, help pay off the historical debts.

Help pay off historical debts. El Tigre is committed and I want to tell you that today, more than ever, I am firm for Buga! Sign for Valle del Cauca! and Sign for the Homeland!