national

Poor areas to get help

Panama's government may soon start distributing funds to the country’s poorest towns.

The government is looking at adopting a law that will allocate money to the country's 75 municipalities based on economic need. The money will be allocated based on annual reports the government receives from each community containing economic data such as per capita income.

These reports will allow the national government to identify the country's poorest areas and fund projects within those communities.

Narciso Machuca, coordinator of the Política de Desarrollo Municipal, stressed that the government will not just be handing blank checks to local mayors and other community leaders, however.

To qualify for funding, detailed reports must be submitted on how the money will be used to help the community.

The government is interested in creating an agency called the Unidad Provincial de Acreditación, which will help communities develop a plan to qualify for the funding. It also will provide technical expertise while being implemented.

Las Tablas Mayor Melquiades González said this is the most important bill of the year, since it will allow the district to receive adequate resources for development.

The mayor added that it will circumvent the red tape that has tied up other such development efforts.

The bill is expected to be debated by the Asamblea Nacional in March.