Guayaquil approves flood prevention funds as Mexican cities face utility protests

In Guayaquil, Ecuador, the City Council has approved a USD 4.22 million transfer to EMAPAG-EP to fund 21 new drainage and flood prevention projects. This initiative, part of the second phase of Plan Choque IV, aims to mitigate risks from heavy rains and the El Niño phenomenon by improving infrastructure such as ducts, valves, and return chambers in critical sectors.

In Mexico, residents and vendors in Cancún are facing local disruptions. Protesters blocked major avenues, including 20 de Noviembre and Kabah, to demand the restoration of water services following a four-day outage. Meanwhile, local businesses in the Hotel Zone are awaiting the official publication of a decree to implement extended operating hours, which were previously approved by the Council but remain pending formal enactment. Additionally, street vendors in Toluca have protested against municipal restrictions that they claim exclude them from participating in the upcoming Feria del Alfeñique 2026.