{"id":18020,"date":"2026-10-16T11:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18020"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:16:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T18:16:40","slug":"housing-reconstruction-in-panamanian-central-provinces-begins-with-debris-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/housing-reconstruction-in-panamanian-central-provinces-begins-with-debris-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Housing Reconstruction in Panamanian Central Provinces Begins With Debris Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Ministry of Housing and Territorial Development (Miviot) launched debris removal operations<\/a> in El Banco, a community in Pes\u00e9 within Herrera province<\/a>, marking the first physical step toward housing reconstruction Panama<\/a> families urgently need after the October 9 earthquake<\/a> destroyed their homes. Minister Jaime Jovan\u00e9<\/a> confirmed construction will begin immediately once crews clear the rubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work is moving simultaneously across several affected provinces<\/a>. Crews in Veraguas have already started five debris removal interventions and one construction process. Cocl\u00e9 saw another removal operation followed by the start of one home. Teams are also active in Chiriqu\u00ed, the indigenous comarca region, and Los Santos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The disaster response now enters a critical phase as Miviot coordinates debris removal with immediate construction starts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Housing Reconstruction Panama Strategy and Contractor Roles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jovan\u00e9 explained that assigned companies will handle the first phase of work, supplying materials and building complete homes from the ground up. Repairs and improvements will use a combination of institutional personnel, equipment, and materials. The minister declined to share census figures on total versus partial damage, saying the focus has shifted from counting losses to rebuilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Yes, we have the census, but we don’t want to talk about that anymore. Now what we want to talk about is how many homes we have started in debris removal, how many we have starting construction, by province” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The minister added that all families will be attended to, signaling a commitment to move past the assessment phase into active recovery. He acknowledged the earthquake exposed weaknesses in local construction practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“We have to be much, much more attentive to the form and construction of their housing solutions in each of these communities” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Emergency
Emergency crews continue assessing structural integrity in affected communities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Survivor Accounts From the Earthquake Zone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yaxiel Samaniego lost her home in El Banco while she was in Chitr\u00e9 buying items for her son Tiago’s birthday. The house collapsed with the first tremor, according to neighbors who witnessed it. Samaniego said if her family had been home, they likely would not have survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“When I arrived and saw it like that, my God, give me only the strength to endure this” [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Using part of the roof that remained, parents from the community helped her build a makeshift shelter. She now stays there with her husband and young child while waiting for a new home. Samaniego said she heard a 45-day delivery timeline mentioned, though government authorities have not confirmed that deadline to her directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por TVN Noticias (@tvnnoticias)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n