Private Sector's Role in El Niño Preparedness

The private sector's crucial role in preparing for and responding to El Niño events extends beyond simple donations or tax-deductible works. While these are useful tools, they do not constitute a comprehensive strategy. The primary contribution of businesses lies in proactive preparation, maintaining essential services, and coordinating their capabilities with the state. The official Enfen statement 12-2026, issued on June 26, maintains an alert for coastal El Niño and predicts a strong or moderate event for the summer of 2026-2027. Preparation should focus on preventing uncertainty from leading to inaction, rather than trying to predict rainfall amounts precisely. Each company must consider how to maintain its operations and what resources it can offer to the country.

A significant portion of the private sector lacks understanding of state response mechanisms, decision-making authorities, and procedures for offering assistance. Initiatives like "Hombro a Hombro," which coordinates business participation in emergencies, are valuable, bringing together over 150 companies and assisting more than 1.5 million people. Strengthening this platform and expanding its reach to more national, regional, and local businesses is recommended over creating new ones. The "works for taxes" mechanism is particularly effective for prevention and reconstruction, requiring prioritized projects, budget availability, and agreements. Donations, however, can be delayed, duplicated, or misaligned with local needs, especially when immediate logistical support is required.

Businesses have three fundamental responsibilities: maintaining operations, preserving employment, and sustaining supply chains by protecting workers and suppliers, anticipating purchases, identifying alternative routes, and upholding essential contracts. Regional and local companies are vital for their on-the-ground knowledge. Secondly, they must mobilize assets and contribute to restoring critical services like telecommunications, energy, water, and payment systems, leveraging their fleets, warehouses, and machinery. Thirdly, coordination with the state before an emergency is paramount. This requires a single point of contact, clear communication of needs, defined priority territories, and approved protocols for information sharing and asset mobilization. Business associations should establish an operational table with relevant authorities to create a regionalized inventory of private capabilities, activation protocols, designated responsibilities, and conduct joint simulations, involving regional chambers and local business representatives.