Residents of the Los Angeles community in Altos de Pacora have taken road construction into their own hands. Fed up with a four-decade wait for official action, they are using shovels, wheelbarrows, and collective effort to improve their only access route. This grassroots initiative highlights persistent infrastructure gaps in areas near Panama’s capital.
The community, home to at least 300 people, lies within the Pacora, Panama district. Despite its relative proximity to urban centers, the unpaved road becomes nearly impassable during the rainy season. Vehicles frequently get stuck, isolating residents and hindering the transport of agricultural goods many families depend on for income.
A Community Takes Action
Led by longtime resident Faustino Domínguez, neighbors organized the purchase and transport of fill material known as ‘tosca’. They coordinate the manual labor themselves, working to level and reinforce the critical one-kilometer stretch. For Domínguez, this is not a choice but a necessity born from decades of neglect. The situation turns a simple commute into a daily struggle.
“We have waited more than 40 years for a decent road,” said Faustino Domínguez, who is coordinating the community effort. “When the rains come, we are cut off. Our children struggle to get to school, and our products cannot reach the market. We decided that if no one would help us, we would help ourselves.” [Translated from Spanish]
The road’s poor condition directly impacts education and household economics. Students are often seen walking to school through mud, sometimes wearing flip-flops to avoid ruining their only pair of shoes. The constant expense of replacing footwear and the difficulty of regular attendance during rains create significant barriers. For farmers, the treacherous path damages crops and increases costs before they even reach a buyer.
Daily Life on a Difficult Path
The community of scattered homes sits in a mountainous, tranquil setting. This peace contrasts sharply with the infrastructural challenges. The current infrastructure in Panama push often focuses on large-scale national projects, leaving smaller rural access roads behind. Residents argue that fixing this single kilometer would transform their quality of life, enabling safer access, reliable transport, and greater economic opportunity.
During the dry season, passage is merely difficult. The rainy season transforms the route into a quagmire that effectively isolates the entire population. This cyclical isolation prevents consistent access to medical services, commercial supplies, and steady employment outside the community. The road is their lifeline, and for months each year it fails them.
“This is about our dignity and our right to a basic connection,” explained one resident involved in the work. “We are not asking for a highway, just for a road that does not trap us in our homes. This work we are doing shows our commitment. We hope it finally shows the authorities our need.” [Translated from Spanish]
The self-built project represents a temporary fix. Residents continue to bring in material, aiming to create a more stable surface before the next heavy rains arrive. Their work is a physical manifestation of a plea for attention. They hope their unprecedented community-led development will spur official action for a permanent solution.
This effort in Altos de Pacora underscores a broader national conversation about equitable development. As Panama celebrates major engineering feats, communities like Los Angeles remind the country that basic access remains an unmet promise for some. Their shovels are digging for more than just gravel. They are digging for recognition.