Undersecretary of the Interior Máximo Pavez ruled out the government using the constitutional 2% provision to address damage from rains in the Metropolitan Region. "It is not on the table," he said.
According to Diario Financiero, the debate arose after the mudslide that hit eastern Santiago last Thursday. Alerts for weather events forecast to continue through the summer of 2027 also contributed.
Some mayors and other officials said the funds would come from the regional emergency 2% allocation. Others pointed to the constitutional 2% provision, a mechanism that allows the President to make public funds available immediately for disasters and serious emergencies nationwide.
Pavez drew a distinction. He explained that the mechanism is reserved for major events and has rarely been used under democratic rule. According to CNN Chile, the undersecretary recalled that it was last used during the Covid-19 pandemic. Before that, it was activated following the collapse of public transportation after the launch of Transantiago in 2007.
The current response has a different funding source. Since July, damage associated with El Niño has been covered by a budget provision allowing regional governments to allocate 2% of their own budgets to emergencies. Pavez explained that the Undersecretariat of the Interior granted authorization that month and that it is available to all regions.
Those funds cover preparedness, mitigation and rehabilitation if needed. Each expenditure must go through the regional Cogrid, the regional committee for disaster risk management. According to Pavez, the authorization also applies to the summer season.
"Concern about a lack of resources is not on the table," the undersecretary said. He added that the government will allocate a budget for summer contingencies and those arising in 2027.
The discussion touches on the 2027 Budget. The executive branch's proposal includes a reduction for the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred). Pavez distinguished between the service's operating expenses and emergency funds. "Emergencies in Chile are not addressed solely with Senapred's budget," he said.
The undersecretary mentioned an off-budget mechanism: budget provision 6 of the Ministry of the Interior. It funds early assistance to the population and the hiring of services when delegations and municipalities need support with the initial response.
Pavez also responded to criticism of public communications during the emergency. He clarified that official communications are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior together with Senapred's leadership, while the initial response is handled by municipal teams.
Regarding equipment, the government ordered an assessment of the purchase of weather radars. Pavez acknowledged that this requires a large investment, although he did not disclose any amounts. He also highlighted forecasts from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, which he believes allow for adequate preparation.
For the summer, the Ministry of the Interior and Senapred are coordinating firebreaks and tenders for aircraft to fight wildfires. They are also preparing the response to extreme heat and highland rains in the north of the country.
