The Gilinski family will allocate the funds for the recovery of health and educational infrastructure in Cali, amid the emergency that left hundreds dead and thousands affected
The national reconstruction of Colombia has begun, but not only against the onslaughts of nature, but against the heavy legacy of socialism. After years of decline under the mandate of Gustavo Petro, which plunged the country into a deep health crisis, the colossal earthquake of August 10 ultimately exposed the fragility of the inherited public infrastructure.
In this emergency scenario, the great mobilization of the private sector has consolidated as the true salvation of the country: Colombian entrepreneurs will donate hundreds of billions of pesos to strengthen the current government's health spending, demonstrating that free enterprise is the engine of recovery against the state neglect of the past.
Jaime Gilinski and Raquel Kardonski
The natural disaster that shook the territory of Colombia reached a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó.
The official report from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd) details a tragedy of national scale: the quake directly impacted 15 departments and 450 municipalities, leaving a regrettable toll of 289 deceased and more than 185,000 affected.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly in a desolate landscape that records 120,238 affected families, 4,187 injured, 143 missing, and 354 people rescued in the areas of greatest impact.
The disaster not only affected human lives but also pulverized public infrastructure, evidencing the previous neglect of essential services.
According to records from the Ungrd, a total of 127,557 houses have structural damage, 26,945 were completely destroyed, and 66 buildings collapsed.
Abelardo De la Espriella on X:
Furthermore, the public infrastructure network suffered devastating losses: 285 health centers, 2,838 educational institutions, and 3,782 community centers were severely damaged, along with serious impacts on 407 roads, 92 aqueducts, 44 vehicular bridges, 12 pedestrian bridges, and 5 airports essential for the transfer of medical and humanitarian assistance.
In the face of this grim panorama, the response from the government of Abelardo de la Espriella has been immediate, firm, and aimed at economic reactivation.
The Executive is already promoting a plan for reconstruction and economic reactivation in Pereira, focused on restoring the operability of local merchants and micro-entrepreneurs, protecting jobs, and preventing the emergency crisis from leading to social conflict for families.
The strategy, announced on August 15, 2026 through a statement from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, anticipates that the president will officially present the plan in the coming days.
In this framework of patriotic reconstruction, the alliance between the government and leaders of private economic development has yielded its most significant fruit in the city of Cali.
President Abelardo de la Espriella himself confirmed, after a phone call, that the prominent entrepreneur Jaime Gilinski and his wife, Raquel Kardonski, formalized a historic donation of $150 billion pesos specifically aimed at the reconstruction of hospitals and schools in Cali.
Jaime Gilinski
Through his official channels on the social network X, the president expressed his deep gratitude for this extraordinary gesture of solidarity from the Gilinski family. “I was informed of the decision they have made to donate 150 billion pesos”, detailed the Head of State.
With a strong sense of recognition towards the role of entrepreneurs in national reconstruction, the president added: “All my gratitude and recognition to the Gilinski family for this extraordinary gesture of solidarity with Colombia”.
The presidential message concluded with a powerful reaffirmation of national values in the face of adversity: “In the most difficult moments, the best citizens are known. Firm for the Homeland!”.
The monumental injection of capital from the private sector not only accelerates the reconstruction of social infrastructure, but also delivers a definitive blow to populist narratives, demonstrating that it is free enterprise, under firm and republican political leadership, the only path to rescue the Nation.
