Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa
Coiba National Park’s sprawling marine territory is about to get a much stronger line of defense against illegal fishing and other threats. Panama marine conservation efforts took a concrete leap forward this September with the delivery of three purpose-built vessels, a combined investment of B/.488,000 drawn from the Coiba Fund. The Ministry of Environment, known locally as MiAmbiente, handed over the boats during a ceremony in Veraguas province, marking a renewed push to safeguard one of Central America’s most ecologically significant ocean reserves. Panama Marine Conservation Funding Reaches $488,000 The funding breaks into two clear operational priorities. A specialized research…
The feasibility study for the Panama David railway has been formally delivered to Panama’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and now sits under active review, officials confirmed during a binational gathering in David, Chiriquí. This milestone, announced September 9, 2026, marks a critical step forward for an initiative that aims to link western Panama with southern Costa Rica and, eventually, other Central American markets. Manuel Arias, who represents the Ferrocarril Panamá-Chiriquí, said the MEF has the document in hand and is evaluating it carefully. The ministry’s review process also involves multilateral organizations tasked with validating the technical and economic…
Two South Korean companies paid $14,710 per kilogram for a nano-lot of Panamanian Geisha at a private Geisha coffee auction this week, establishing a new benchmark for one of the world’s most exclusive agricultural products. Ruli Coffee and GSC International secured the 2-kilogram lot from the first harvest of Luito Estate after a marathon bidding session that stretched across 11 hours and 15 minutes. The event, organized by Lamastus Family Estate and titled “First Light, Before the World Wakes,” began at 6 p.m. on September 8 and didn’t conclude until 5 a.m. the following day. The winning lot attracted 3,881…
Young Panamanians looking for a first break in the labor market can now earn while they learn under a new national program. President José Raúl Mulino presided over the official launch event where the first participants signed internship agreements with private companies, turning Panama youth internships into a working reality. The initiative, created by Law 513 of March 20, 2026, provides monthly compensation, private health coverage, and hands-on exposure to the country’s productive sector for people aged 18 to 25. Panama Youth Internships Move From Paper to Workplace The signing ceremony marked the first concrete step for a policy designed…
Every morning, borrowers in some Panama neighborhoods wait for the knock that keeps them in debt. The informal “gota a gota” loan seems simple: cash delivered quickly, no paperwork, and a promise to repay in daily installments. But consumer protection officials and police warn that predatory lending risks hide behind that convenience, especially when collectors begin showing up at homes and workplaces. Subcomisionado Yeisson Díaz of the Dirección de Investigación Judicial (DIJ) says the loan itself is not classified as illegal. The danger arrives later, he explains, when a borrower fails to keep up with payments and the collection process…
In the first three months of 2026, buyers from the United States committed $33.6 million to residential real estate in Panama, a 53 percent jump from the same period a year earlier. That surge pushed the United States past Colombia and Venezuela for the first time in the country’s modern property market. Behind that shift sits a far larger phenomenon: expatriate market growth now valued at more than $1.8 billion, according to consulting firm Indesa. The money moves through real estate transactions, yes, but also through restaurants, legal advisors, wellness services, and the daily spending of thousands of international residents.…
For many people, a quick visit to a bank branch has often ended with a small but frustrating charge, like a fee to withdraw cash from a savings account. That scenario will change when the bank removing commission agreement was approved by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP) . It takes effect on January 4, 2027. Agreement No. 7-2026, approved on September 9, 2026, bans banks from collecting commissions on a wide range of everyday services, from balance letters to certain loan cancellations. Panama’s bank removing commission for everyday services Under the new framework, banks must stop charging for…
A Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel sits powerless and uncrewed in Panamanian waters this week as specialized salvage teams work to cool its heated hull following a serious ship fire roughly 600 nautical miles from the Central American nation. The Min Jiang Kou, a roll-on/roll-off carrier designed to transport automobiles, trucks and heavy machinery, entered Panamanian jurisdiction after its contracted salvage company requested permission to stabilize the vessel for an eventual tow to an Asian shipyard. Ship Fire Emergency Response and Salvage Operations Three tugboats now surround the stricken vessel, participating in coordinated efforts to bring the situation under control. The…
Panamanian households won’t have to worry about higher electricity costs this fall and winter. The national government has committed $122 million to a power tariff relief initiative that keeps scheduled rate adjustments from touching consumer bills between September and December 2026. The measure, formalized through Cabinet Resolution No. 110-26, represents a direct intervention by the executive branch to maintain billing stability during the year’s final quarter. How the Power Tariff Relief Mechanism Works Zelmar Rodríguez Crespo, the general administrator of the National Public Services Authority, outlined the mechanics behind the decision. The regulatory framework requires periodic tariff updates to reflect…
Panama has joined a growing list of countries shielding former cancer patients from financial discrimination after its oncological oblivion law entered the official record this week. Law No. 547, signed on September 8, 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday, grants survivors the legal right to withhold their medical history from banks, insurers and other financial entities once five years have passed since treatment ended without relapse. Legal Recognition of Cancer Survivors’ Financial Rights The measure, originally introduced as Bill No. 350 of 2025, amends existing rules on banking clients, insurance consumers and financial companies. It establishes that…