Published on August 28, 2026
Following the earthquake that occurred on August 10, 2026, the National Government declared a State of Economic, Social, and Ecological Emergency due to a serious public calamity, pursuant to Article 215 of the Political Constitution and Law 137 of 1994.
Decree 1261 of August 19, 2026, covers the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Cundinamarca, Risaralda, Huila, Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Putumayo, Norte de Santander, Bolívar, Nariño, and Sucre, as well as other municipalities where a specific impact resulting from the earthquake is established.
The declaration has a duration of thirty (30) calendar days and authorizes the Government to issue legislative decrees with the force of law adopting extraordinary measures in budgetary, tax, foreign exchange, contractual, labor, housing, health, education, and justice matters, as necessary to address the crisis, without replacing suitable ordinary mechanisms.
Among the announced measures are the creation of special funds to finance assistance and reconstruction in the affected areas, the territorial expansion of the Works for Taxes mechanism, temporary tax, customs, and foreign exchange relief measures to release liquidity for affected taxpayers, as well as the use, on a loan basis, of resources from the General Royalties System and the Savings and Stabilization Fund.
Support for employers and independent workers in the affected areas was also contemplated. The specific scope of these measures will be subject to the legislative decrees issued by the Government in the coming weeks, which must bear a direct connection to the emergency and be submitted to the Constitutional Court for automatic constitutional review.
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