The Brazilian construction firm will not be able to participate in future tender processes and must withdraw from the contests for the fourth bridge over the Canal and the Metro line 3, but will probably continue with projects which are already under construction.
The government has announced that the Brazilian company will not be able to take part in future processes, but in respect to the works it is currently operating, such as the construction of Line 2 of the Metro and the urban renewal in Colón, President Varela said"... ' we must protect the country's economy."
It has been announced that next week a tender will be published for the construction of two new lanes on the stretch of road between San Carlos and La Chorrera, west of the Panamanian capital.
The announcement was made by Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, and will serve to improve capacity on a route that has a length of about 70 kilometers.
President Varela announced that preparations are being made for the tender to build and equip a cultural and educational convention center in Chitre, with an investment of $37 million.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The President of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela has announced the construction and equipping of a Integral Educational and Cultural Convention Center in the city of Chitre, at a cost of 37.1 million dollars.
In order to replenish stocks of medicines the Social Security Department will be able to sign contracts directly for amounts up to $500,000.
With the backing of President the Social Security Department (CSS by its initials in Spanish) plans to start signing contracts directly in the next 30 days, after presenting a proposal to the Board of the institution next Tuesday.
President Varela announced that in the second week of May 2017 the tender will be launched for the construction of Metro Line 3, which in its first phase will run from Albrook to Ciudad del Futuro.
The roadworks in the village of Kankintú include bridges, coatings, culverts, earthworks, drainage, ditches and signaling.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Panama:
Under the historic Cabinet Council held in the village of Kankintú, in Ngäbe Bugle, President Juan Carlos Varela announced the construction of the Cañazas-Kankintú Road (Section 1: Cañazas-Coclecito), a work comprising of approximately 36 kilometers.
A resolution has been found to the dispute with the subsidiary of the Italian company Finmeccanica, which will withdraw from the country the radar and coastal surveillance equipment which was the object of the contract, and the Panamanian State will receive a credit for $32 million.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry of Panama:
The Government of the Republic of Panama and Finmeccanica S.p.A., (with its subsidiaries Selex ES S.p.A, Agusta Westland S.p.A. and Telespazio, S.p.A.), announced that they have reached an agreement to overcome the conflicts arising from contracts signed in 2010.
President Varela announced that a tender will be launched for the construction of 15,000 homes each valued at between $30,000 and $40,000, in Las Garzas de Pacora, Panama Province.
During an inspection visit to the area measuring about 325 hectares, the president announced the construction of public infrastructure works in the area along with tenders for water works and sanitation projects, electricity works, hospitals, schools, institutional and commercial areas, public spaces for recreation and sports, landscaping, and security.
The Varela administration has presented plans to develop projects this year, announcing that after negotiating with contractors, work will resume on 'Health City 'and 'Sports City' in Chiriqui.
Among the new projects that President Varela announced for this year, are the first 'Higher Bilingual Technical Institute ", with capacity for 5000 students, the fourth bridge over the Canal, Metro line 3, the expansion of the roads Panama -Arraiján (eight lanes) and Chorrera-San Carlos (six), the new water treatment plants in Santiago, Gatun and Sandy, and expansion of those in Chilibre and Sabanitas, sewerage networks and treatment plants in Santiago and David, the extension of the 'hydraulic ring' in the capital, and the construction of sewerage systems in district capitals.
The government plans to tender the expansion to six lanes of the Inter American Highway, between the districts of La Chorrera and San Carlos, in the province of Panama West.
President Varela explained that the first phase of the enlargement will on the stretch comprising the Bridge of the Americas to Arraiján, and that the tender must be made in the next 30 days.
Specifications are being drawn up for the launch of a tender in December for a water treatment plant for $150 million in La Chorrera, and another for $50 million for the area of Arraijan, Veracruz and Howard.
The construction of the water treatment plants is part of a comprehensive plan to clean up Panama West, comprising of several stages and various works in the districts of the province.
The government has announced the provision of $6.5 million for purchasing vehicles and bulletproof vests to strengthen prevention duties in the east of the country.
From a statement issued by presidency of Panama:
Members of the National Police Force in Panama this Friday received a visit from President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez, who in conjunction with the Security Minister Rodolfo Aguilera and director Omar Pinzon reviewed progress on security and evaluated the needs for strengthening the fighting strength of the entity.
President Varela has announced that in the coming days publication will be made of the conditions of the tender to expand to eight lanes Via Arraiján to the Bridge of the Americas.
The Panamanian government announced that in the coming days it will publish on the website for state purchases, the specifications of the tender process for the extension to eight lanes of Via Arraiján to the Bridge of the Americas.
President Varela has announced a third bridge over the canal, extension of the Inter American highway, a wastewater treatment plant and modernization of the public transport system.
The Panamanian government has announced that all of these projects are included in the 2015 budget. In the case of the new bridge, they said it will include eight lanes, however, they have not yet given details of what it will cost.