The Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, together with the National Consumer Service (Sernac), has launched a new tool to help families affected by recent forest fires in the Ñuble, Biobío, and La Araucanía regions. The initiative introduces an online price comparison platform for construction materials, aiming to improve how state-provided financial support is used.
This tool is designed for those receiving aid through the “Emergency Electronic Wallet,” allowing them to compare prices and make informed decisions when purchasing building supplies. Authorities hope this will help families maximize their resources during reconstruction efforts.
Javier Sepúlveda, Regional Ministerial Secretary of Economy for Biobío, highlighted the importance of this development: “As the Government of Chile we are deeply committed to the recovery of families affected by the fires. That is why we have provided a construction product price comparison tool that will allow families supported financially by the State to easily and transparently compare prices for building materials needed to rebuild their homes,” said Sepúlveda.
“The call is for all families to use this tool to maximize the reach of resources made available by the State,” he added.
Angélica Solar, Regional Director of Sernac in Biobío, emphasized that this service aims to assist affected households in finding and comparing essential materials: “This tool allows people to compare construction material prices simply and also helps us monitor possible changes in prices for these much-needed goods during this reconstruction period,” Solar stated.
The Sernac platform compiles pricing data from major hardware chains with online sales capabilities and national coverage—especially focusing on Ñuble and Biobío regions. Users can access information on various categories such as cement, plywood sheets, zinc panels, nails, pipes, among others. Product characteristics and current prices are listed at www.sernac.cl. During its initial weeks, updates on pricing and stock will occur every Monday; later updates will be automated twice weekly using data from participating retailers.
Price comparisons conducted by Sernac revealed significant differences between suppliers. For example, a 25-kilogram bag of cement ranged from $3,690 to $5,990—a difference of $2,300. Plywood sheet prices varied between $17,420 and $23,990 per unit. Nail prices averaged $3,595 per kilogram but ranged from $1,580 up to $6,590.
A sample basket containing eight critical products showed that selecting only the cheapest options would cost about $80 thousand pesos; choosing higher-end items could raise costs up to $900 thousand pesos.
The Emergency Electronic Wallet (BEEA) provides non-reimbursable financial assistance specifically for purchasing construction materials or hardware supplies. This support targets households whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed according to FIBE criteria and aims at early rehabilitation efforts.
