Leadership of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management changed during the response to the August 10 earthquake. Javier Pava Sánchez, UNGRD’s outgoing acting director, announced at 6:24 a.m. on August 12 that he was handing the role to David Santiago Tamayo Roldán in the midst of the unified command post.
A handover announced at 6:24 a.m.
In his post, Pava links the handover to his responsibility for coordinating the earthquake response. He wishes David Tamayo success and says the life and dignity of victims must remain UNGRD’s priority.
The announcement provides the exact time of public confirmation of the transition. It does not give the time of a separate swearing-in act or detail the files transferred.
From an announced choice to a signed decree
Abelardo de la Espriella had announced his choice of David Santiago Tamayo Roldán on July 21, before taking office. That statement presented the future official but did not yet constitute a legally completed appointment.
Semana reported on August 12 that the president signed the formalising decree on August 11. EL PAÍS places the signature during the night. The decree number and its exact signing time are not established in those reports.
A geological engineer trained in risk management
Semana describes Tamayo as a geological engineer who holds a master’s degree in risk management from the University of Antioquia.
Those qualifications describe his background. They do not yet support attributing an operational decision made after the handover to the new director.
The third national committee remains in progress
At 9:55 a.m., UNGRD announced that the third National Disaster Management Committee was under way in the crisis room. The post says the situation, measures still to be defined and the needs of affected municipalities are being examined.
The message does not name Tamayo, identify who chairs the meeting or publish a completed decision. The committee therefore cannot be presented as the new director’s first personal measure.
What still needs confirmation
The next expected markers are direct publication of the decree, the first communications signed by the new leadership and measures finalised by the crisis bodies.
The handover confirms a change of official, but by itself does not demonstrate a measurable change in rescue work, aid or service restoration.
Sources and transparency
- Javier Pava Sánchez — remise de fonction à David Tamayo, publiée à 06 h 24 COT
- Semana — officialisation de David Santiago Tamayo Roldán, publiée à 06 h 59 COT
- Semana — annonce initiale du choix de David Tamayo, 21 juillet 2026 à 15 h 20 COT
- EL PAÍS — désignation et signature du décret dans la nuit du 11 août, publié à 09 h 38 COT
- UNGRD — troisième Comité national pour le manejo de desastres, publié à 09 h 55 COT