The 2016 Public Sector Budget allocates for the first time over S/.5.00 billion (about US$1.49 billion) to cover emergencies nationwide, among them El Niño Climate Phenomenon, the President of the Council of Ministers Pedro Cateriano affirmed on Thursday.
Remarks were made during his presentation at the Congress Plenary session to support the 2016 Public Sector Budget proposal amounting to S/.138.4 billion (about US$41.34 billion).
The official said S/.3.00 billion (about US$890 million) will be addressed to response, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects designed to counter El Niño damages.
Likewise, he indicated the budget aims to strengthen seven fundamental pillars: education engagement, health services improvement, social inclusion consolidation, public security strengthening, infrastructure gap reduction, emergency prevention and boosting productive diversification.
In order to reduce the infrastructure gap, Cateriano affirmed 30% are aimed at prioritizing development, sanitation, education, agriculture and health projects, among others.
The corresponding budget discussion began on Thursday afternoon. The debate session kicked off on Thursday morning.
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