Author: spieper

Panamanian drivers would be paying twenty cents less per gallon of gasoline today if the country had maintained its earlier adoption of bioethanol. Gaspar Ortiz, the National Director of Agribusiness at the Ministry of Agricultural Development, made that claim this week as the National Assembly revisits legislation to mandate the fuel additive. His statement refocuses a long-running national debate on energy costs and environmental policy. Ortiz participated in a televised interview on the program Noticias AM, providing detailed calculations to support the potential savings for consumers. He argued that using domestically produced bioethanol acts as a crucial price stabilizer against…

Panamanian fire officials report a dramatic increase in vegetation fires across the nation this year. The Panama Fire Department has responded to more than 500 incidents so far, a figure that nearly triples the 1,694 fires recorded for the entire previous year. Each local fire station now handles between five and ten vegetation fires daily. Authorities directly link the surge to persistent cultural practices of burning land for cleaning, exacerbated by current dry and windy conditions. Colonel Angel Delgado of the Panama Fire Department expressed serious concern about the trend. He emphasized that open burning is illegal and particularly dangerous…

A Panamanian creative professional will win a full scholarship for a three-month program at India’s Asian Academy of Film & Television. The country’s Ministry of Culture announced the opportunity this week, setting a March 27 deadline for all application materials.The scholarship aims to bolster local expertise within Panama’s growing audiovisual industry. It covers the program’s full tuition, student residence housing, and all meals for the entire stay. Panama’s Film Directorate will also fund the selected candidate’s round-trip airfare to India.Eligibility and Application Requirements for CandidatesProspective applicants must be Panamanian citizens over the age of 20 with demonstrable experience in film,…

Panama’s Ministry of Health confirmed 1,232 total cases of dengue fever for the year as of late February. The epidemiological report, covering week eight of 2026, also documented four fatalities linked to the mosquito-borne illness.The national case count includes 1,081 patients without warning signs, 146 with warning signs, and five severe cases. Health officials noted that 149 individuals have required hospitalization since the start of the year. The data underscores an ongoing public health challenge as the country enters a period of heightened transmission risk.Lydia Lozano, the head of the Epidemiology Department at the Ministry of Health (Panama), emphasized the…

A United States Navy carrier strike group led by the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is conducting a months-long operational transit around South America. Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (Panama) confirmed the vessels will operate in Panamanian waters from March 29 to April 2.The deployment supports the “Southern Seas 2026″ initiative, a recurring U.S. Southern Command operation focused on multinational maritime cooperation. The servicio nacional aeronaval stated the visit aims to strengthen knowledge exchange and interoperability with regional partners.”This deployment underscores our commitment to regional partnerships and maritime security,” a U.S. Navy spokesperson said. [Translated from Spanish]The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its accompanying…

Panama’s public services regulator will launch a competitive bidding process this year to introduce a third mobile network operator. The National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) announced the plan to diversify the telecommunications market, which has been dominated by two companies for years.ASEP’s General Administrator, Zelmar Rodriguez Crespo, confirmed the timeline during the presentation of a new investor-focused microsite. The digital platform provides market data, regulatory frameworks, and technical indicators to guide potential bidders. Officials stated the country is now prepared to move forward after foundational sector strengthening work that began in February 2025.”The country is in a position to…

Panamanian immigration officials boarded an international cruise ship departing from the waters of Coiba Island this week. The operation forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen migration controls across the country’s maritime routes and protected zones. Officers from the National Migration Service (Panama) conducted the verification on the cruise ship PONANT LE CHAMPLAIN. The vessel had set sail from the area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site, located south of Veraguas Province. A total of 144 passengers and 131 crew members were documented during the procedure. Securing Maritime Borders and Protected Areas These inspections are now standard for the…

U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera hosted Panamanian government officials and community leaders in Panama City on March 11 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps. The event celebrated decades of collaborative service between the united states and Panama, focusing on education, health, and agricultural development.Representatives from multiple Panamanian ministries attended the ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Panama. These included the offices of the First Lady and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Education. The gathering highlighted an ongoing partnership that began with the first Peace Corps volunteers arriving in Panama in 1963.”The Peace Corps is a…

The Municipality of Panama has initiated a specialized outreach program targeting homeless women. Announced in March 2026, the effort forms part of the city’s “Month of the Woman” observances and aims to connect a vulnerable population with critical social services. City officials described the program as a focused intervention designed to address the unique challenges faced by women living on the streets. The initiative involves teams from the mayor’s office and social services directly engaging with individuals in known gathering areas. Their goal is to offer immediate assistance and guide women toward long-term recovery pathways including shelter, healthcare, and job…

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi met with a senior United States official this week to explore technology partnerships. The discussions focused on securing funding and expertise for urban innovation projects, including a major proposal for smart bus stops. The meeting included John Mills, a high-ranking official from the Department of State of the United States, and members of the U.S. Embassy team. Their goal was to identify concrete areas for bilateral cooperation on modernizing the capital’s infrastructure and services through technology. Central to the talks was a specific project currently awaiting a funding decision. The city has submitted a proposal…