Sunday, October 4, 2026

Honduras's audit office (TSC) found that Omar Elías Mejía Zúniga, president of FUNDANIQUEM, the national children's burn center, hired relatives without following proper procedures in 2019–2020, but concluded that no explicit rules barred such hiring and that a severance payment he received of L1.39 million (about $56,000) was lawful and caused no financial harm.

Honduras's immigration authority will keep passport services running at three major airports — Palmerola, Ramón Villeda Morales, and Toncontín — during Morazán Week, October 5–9, with extended hours for holiday travelers.

Two congressional commissions have set up a working group with transport-sector representatives and government agencies to assess the impact of fuel-price increases and find ways to ease the burden on Hondurans.

The Central Bank's Global Real Exchange Rate Index fell 1.32% year-over-year in August, a sign that Honduran exports remain more price-competitive against major trading partners.

Honduras's state power utility ENEE, losing an estimated 40 million lempiras a day to illegal connections, meter tampering, and theft, is deploying specialized crews nationwide to inspect, install meters, and cut service where theft is found, aiming to recover lost revenue and strengthen its finances.

Honduras's new Energy Justice Law aims to attract investment and spur competition in the electricity sector while freezing ENEE rates for the first six months and clearing the way for short- and long-term energy auctions and residential solar projects.

Also reported by: Congreso Nacional

Honduras took in $468.3 million in foreign direct investment in the second quarter of 2026, up $357 million from the same period in 2025 and the strongest quarterly inflow in more than a decade.

Honduras's Energy Ministry raised premium-gasoline prices effective October 5 while freezing diesel and subsidizing 70% of the increase on regular gasoline to soften the blow to households from international fuel pressures.

Also reported by: Radio América

Honduras's poultry industry reports losses of at least 6 million lempiras (about $240,000) amid production pressures, avian flu surveillance, and limits on egg prices that the government and producers are addressing through reference pricing.

Also reported by: Radio Cadena Voces (RCV), Infobae – Honduras

Economist Ismael Zepeda criticized the government's new $177 million CAF loan for the energy sector, arguing it runs counter to recent reforms meant to draw private investment and warning that the debt will fall on consumers rather than private utilities.

Honduras's energy regulator approved a 0.64% average rate increase for state utility ENEE customers effective October 1, but a legal rate freeze keeps the increase off bills, with the government absorbing the deferred costs.

The state utility ENEE will cut power on October 4 in dozens of communities in Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Cortés, and Comayagua for scheduled maintenance, with outages lasting between 8 and 9.5 hours depending on location.

Honduras's municipal water authority (UMAPS) will close its administrative offices October 5–9 for Morazán Week, though emergency and operations staff will stay on duty to maintain service in the capital.

Hospital Escuela will keep normal hours Monday and Tuesday, then limit services to emergencies only from Wednesday through the Morazán holiday period.

National Police arrested eight suspects accused of illegally exploiting natural resources in Esquías, Comayagua.

Honduras's National Autonomous University rose in the QS World University Rankings for Latin America and the Caribbean, climbing from the 201–250 range to 181–190 and lifting its overall score from 28.0 to 33.7 points.

The Social Development Secretariat confirmed that scholarship payments through Banadesa have begun for students who signed contracts in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, part of a program aimed at more than 8,000 vulnerable youth.

Heavy rains in San Pedro Sula on October 3 left about 230 families with damaged homes and belongings, with authorities blaming the severity partly on garbage blocking storm drains at 34 critical points across the city.

Also reported by: El Heraldo

Honduras's disaster agency warned of heavy rain and lightning across the western, central, and southern regions as remnants of a tropical wave combine with an upper-level trough, urging residents to avoid open areas during storms and guard against sudden flooding.

Police arrested a 44-year-old man on drug-trafficking charges during an operation in Roatán, in the Bay Islands.