Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa

Panama City, Panama , President José Raúl Mulino announced Wednesday that Panama economic growth hit 6.4 percent in the second quarter, while unemployment fell to 9.3 percent. The figures, released during an infrastructure event in eastern Panama Province, mark the strongest signal yet that the country’s post-pandemic recovery is translating into tangible labor market gains. Mulino said more than 100,000 new jobs were created over the past year, with private sector hiring outpacing public sector employment for the first time in 12 years. “It’s very encouraging for the country to strengthen and for those quarters of growth to start being…

Panama City, Panama , Consumer protection authorities will deploy inspection teams across shopping centers nationwide during the Panama Black Weekend, scheduled for October 2 through 4, to verify that advertised discounts and promotions match actual prices charged at registers. The Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Acodeco) has coordinated personnel for all three days of the commercial event, placing staff in major malls to guide shoppers and receive complaints on-site, according to Raúl Lindo, national director of consumer protection at Acodeco. Price Verification and Consumer Safeguards Lindo urged shoppers to confirm that promotional discounts appear correctly at checkout,…

More than two months of insufficient rainfall have placed severe strain on rice crops in Natá, Coclé province, leaving small-scale producers in the community of Olivo facing potential total loss of their annual investment. The drought, linked to ongoing El Niño conditions, has dried out soil across the region and stunted plant development at a critical growth stage. Local farmers report that rain has fallen only twice during the entire period, with neither event delivering enough water to sustain the rice paddies. The affected zone lies within the El Caño corregimiento, where agricultural families depend almost entirely on seasonal rainfall…

Panama City is marking a major milestone for harpy eagle conservation this Sunday, September 20, as the country’s beloved avian ambassador turns 17 years old. The celebration unfolds at the Botanical Garden and Summit Municipal Park, where “Panamá,” the eagle who has become the face of her species’ survival, has resided since arriving from Zoo Miami in June 2013. The Alcaldía de Panamá organized the day-long event starting at 10:00 a.m., designed to draw families, residents, and international visitors into the conversation about protecting this endangered raptor. Admission includes access to environmental stands, children’s games, and recreational trails that wind…

A powerful explosion tore through a residential unit at the PH Pacific Blue complex in Bijao, Coclé province, on Friday afternoon, causing structural damage to at least five apartments and leaving two people with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency crews from the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos responded to the scene at 3:57 p.m. following reports of a blast in the Río Hato township development. Preliminary assessments indicate a 53-year-old woman and one man sustained minor injuries. Neither required hospitalization for life-threatening conditions, according to fire department reports. The explosion’s origin remains under investigation, with officials cautioning against attributing the cause to a…

Panama’s tourism sector is signaling support for a proposed cruise disembarkation fee that would charge $5 per passenger arriving in Colón, a move backers say could inject desperately needed funding into the Caribbean province. Ernesto Orillac, former president of Panama’s Tourism Chamber (Camtur), endorsed the interinstitutional dialogue proposed by Colón Mayor Diógenes Galván to study the levy. The proposal comes as Colón struggles with infrastructure decay and limited public resources despite hosting thousands of cruise visitors annually. A five dollar charge, supporters argue, is negligible for travelers spending hundreds or thousands on a cruise vacation but could collectively generate meaningful…

American citizens living in Panama and other countries must act quickly to secure their ballots for the November 3 general election, with recommended mailing dates falling in early October. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has outlined specific procedures for election participation overseas, including registration deadlines and backup ballot options for those who miss primary windows. US Embassy officials in Panama City confirmed that ballot drop-box services are available at the Clayton compound during regular business hours. Citizens who register through the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) receive a legal guarantee that their state will transmit ballots at least 45…

Authorities are sounding the alarm over crocodile attack prevention after a video circulating on social media showed a man dangerously approaching several reptiles at the Port of Coquira in Chepo district. The area is a recognized natural habitat for crocodiles, and the footage has reignited urgent calls for public caution. The incident comes just days after a fisherman was injured in a crocodile attack in the same sector. Officials from Panama’s Environment Ministry (MiAmbiente) said the reckless behavior seen in the video could provoke more aggressive encounters between humans and wildlife. Crocodile Attack Prevention Measures Under Scrutiny The video has…

Panama recorded 229,904 new employment registrations between January and August 2026, a 25.3 percent increase over the 183,508 contracts filed during the same period last year. The preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel) show the market added 46,396 additional work contracts, signaling a strengthening labor market heading into the final quarter. July led all months with 33,154 registrations, followed by June with 32,784 and March with 31,516. August posted the lowest monthly figure of 2026 at 22,367 contracts, but still outpaced August 2025 by 17.1 percent when 19,094 agreements were recorded. New Employment Registrations…

Panama has officially launched its free medical coverage program for international visitors, effective immediately after the Comptroller General’s Office approved the contract awarded by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP). The policy automatically protects foreign tourists and Panamanian residents living abroad from the moment they receive their immigration stamp at participating airports, with no forms, payments, or additional procedures required. The coverage extends through the first ten days of a visitor’s stay. ATP Administrator Gloria de León confirmed the contract was endorsed last Friday and that officials decided to activate the policy right away, ensuring any traveler who suffers an accident,…