Panama President Jose Raul Mulino and First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino visited the district of La Pintada in Cocle province on Friday. They supervised a major social services fair featuring the government’s national pet sterilization program alongside health screenings and agricultural support initiatives.
The presidential couple toured the grounds of the Justa Moreno de Conte Municipal Palace where the eighteenth “Mission Patitas” event was underway. This high-volume veterinary campaign forms part of the First Lady’s Office social programs. Additional services included the “Love on Wheels” mobile health clinic, vision and hearing screenings, and an interagency collaboration between the Agricultural Marketing Institute and the Ministry of Health.
Official data shows the pet initiative has sterilized 15,580 dogs and cats nationwide since its launch in September 2024. The four-day La Pintada event aimed to complete approximately two thousand additional Pet sterilization procedures. President Mulino praised organizers for their work in controlling the stray animal population humanely.
“I congratulate the Mission Patitas team for their excellent work across the country,” Mulino told attendees. [Translated from Spanish] He also confirmed plans to begin construction on a new National Pet Hospital in the Juan Diaz district, fulfilling a campaign promise to enhance animal welfare services nationwide.
Mission Patitas will continue its provincial tour with stops in Colon next weekend and Chiriqui during December. Each location targets roughly one thousand sterilization procedures. The program represents one of the most significant government-led animal welfare efforts in recent Panamanian history.
Comprehensive Community Services
Beyond veterinary services, the interagency fair provided extensive human health support. Mobile clinics offered vaccinations, blood pressure checks, and dental prosthesis fittings. The First Lady’s “Love on Wheels” program provided mammography screenings inside specially equipped vehicles.
Mulino personally greeted students from the La Pintada Professional and Technical Institute during the visit. He detailed progress on the Agricultural Specialization Center project scheduled to begin operations in 2026. This technical training institution will develop skilled professionals for Panama’s crucial Agribusiness sector through campuses in Chiriqui, Darien, and Herrera provinces.
The presidential couple also inspected IMA rice sales points, speaking directly with customers about pricing and availability. They presented household goods donations to local residents Amarilis Pinzon and Monica Martinez. Throughout the day, community members of all ages approached the officials with greetings and thanks for the concentrated service delivery.
Major Infrastructure Projects Announced
President Mulino used the occasion to announce significant upcoming infrastructure investments for Cocle province. He confirmed that construction on the new Aquilino Tejeira Hospital would commence in January. “This will be a first-class hospital in Penonome, like all the others we are building,” the president stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The province will also benefit from the massive Panama-David-Border railway project. Mulino indicated that final details regarding project investment, including the precise route and environmental impact assessment, would soon be presented to the nation. This railway represents one of the most ambitious transportation infrastructure projects in modern Panama.
The day concluded with a working meeting at the residence of La Pintada Mayor Ina Rodriguez. The president and first lady listened to local authorities detail specific community needs and development priorities. They were accompanied throughout the visit by Mayor Rodriguez, Congresswoman Dana Castaneda, and representatives from various districts.
This integrated approach combining animal welfare, human health services, and infrastructure announcements reflects the administration’s strategy of addressing multiple community needs through concentrated regional visits. The La Pintada event demonstrates how social programs and major development projects are advancing simultaneously across Panama’s interior provinces.