Government officials visited Chitré to announce measures to address the drinking water crisis that has plagued the Azuero region for months, where residents have protested the lack of supply. Minister of the Presidency Juan Carlos Orillac asked the public for patience while the measures are implemented. He explained that in recent weeks, meetings have been held with the IDAAN technical team in the capital to evaluate immediate measures to improve water distribution, while larger projects, such as the construction and rehabilitation of water treatment plants, are underway. Orillac indicated that many of these projects have already been awarded, but their execution will take time as it is a structural problem that has accumulated over years. However, authorities have not set a date for when this long-standing issue will be resolved. Authorities stated that the priority is to increase the flow in the network by activating new wells. In the province of Los Santos, work is underway to enable 29 wells, while in Herrera, four new wells are being drilled, aiming to inject more water into the distribution network and improve flow to communities facing shortages. Officials noted that while water tanker operations are ongoing, this measure is considered temporary and not the primary solution to the problem. Residents in Chitré have faced difficulties obtaining drinking water for months due to the pollution of the La Villa and Estibaná rivers. "We are extremely concerned, and we know that in Azuero we have been experiencing supply difficulties for several months now," the minister stated. "Our goal isn’t just any water, but potable water." "I know it’s difficult, but we’re going to try to resolve this problem as soon as possible." In recent weeks, residents have taken to the streets to protest and demand solutions, denouncing the irregular water supply to their homes. "This cannot be resolved overnight," he emphasized. Drilling operations are taking place in strategic areas such as the Chitré ring road, the road to Pesé, and the La Arena area. The agency was then taken over by Luis Santanach as interim director of IDAAN.
