The Colombian government promised an investment of $14.5 billion will be used to create better infrastructure to prevent future weather-related damages similar to those incurred during the past rainy season, Caracol Radio reported Monday.
Jorge Londoño, President of the Directive Committee of the National Disaster Fund, said that the government is looking to utilize the money, allotted as part of the National Development Plan, to implement defense mechanisms against future flooding and other seasonal disasters.
“To build resistance in the country, in order to return to Colombians the right to the security from natural tragedies, COP26 trillion ($14.5 billion) has been invested in the National Development Plan for projects that will move the country forward in adapting to the climate situation,” said Londoño.
The government also called on local and departmental authorities to work to mitigate the after-effects of the “La Niña” weather pattern, and to implement projects that will ultimately leave the country in a better condition than it was prior to the rains.
Earlier in the month, President Juan Manuel Santos thanked Colombians for the solidarity that they showed during this year’s rainy season, which cost more than $5 billion in damages to private properties and infrastructure, and is responsible for more than 450 deaths.