Ten companies and consortia entered into competition for three tenders launched by the Municipality of Panama for the urban renewal of three key zones in the heart of the city. These are the areas of Plaza 5 de Mayo, Avenida 3 de Noviembre, and Calle Estudiante, projects that together sum an estimated investment of 17 million dollars. The public acts, held between March 20 and 27, received a total of 17 proposals, although several bidders repeat in more than one process, which reduces to 10 the number of unique competitors seeking to win these contracts for the city center. The contract to rescue Plaza 5 de Mayo was tendered with a reference price of 7 million dollars, and is part of a package of interventions in the city center that also includes Avenida 3 de Noviembre and Calle Estudiante. For Avenida 3 de Noviembre, the municipality set another estimated budget of 7 million dollars, while for Calle Estudiante the projected investment is 3 million. It also includes the installation of 25 formal kiosks to organize street vending activity. The work will be developed in an approximate area of 19,321 square meters and a length of 2,208 linear meters, divided into four sections. It also proposes the expansion of sidewalks, safe crossings, ramps, transportation stops, signage, LED lighting, urban furniture, and landscaping with 187 native trees and more than 1,600 square meters of green areas, as well as measures for stormwater management and flood mitigation. Historically, Plaza 5 de Mayo has been a zone used for large political gatherings as well as all kinds of protests, due to its proximity to the National Assembly and its connection to Central Avenue, which leads to San Felipe, where the Presidency of the Republic is located. 3 de Noviembre: 7 competing proposals. In the urban renewal project of Avenida 3 de Noviembre and its connection with the coastal strip, where street vendors who had been evicted from the center of Calidonia and the vicinity of one of the Panama Metro stations are currently located, seven economic proposals were also received during the event held on March 26, 2026. The offers were: Consorcio Vértice: $5,900,777.00; Administración y Supervisión de Obras Civiles, S.A.: $9,898,002.1; Consorcio Aceras Panamá: $6,034,049.48; Ingeniería REC, S.A.: $6,338,997.54; Consorcio C&T 3 de Noviembre: $6,206,000.00; Centroequipos, S.A.: $5,770,000.01; Consorcio Gana-Oti: $5,817,681.05. On Avenida 3 de Noviembre, the Municipality seeks to recover walkability and revitalize urban activity, reinforcing its connection with the coastal strip, Central Avenue, the market area, and the 5 de Mayo transport node (Metro station and MiBus paid zone). The project will impact an approximate area of 56,000 square meters, with a length of 1,250 linear meters, distributed in five sections. The works include the rehabilitation of sidewalks, public squares, bike lanes, bus stops, urban furniture, efficient lighting, signage, and green areas with native vegetation. It also contemplates the construction of commercial premises and a bike lane route in front of the Seafood Market, connected to the coastal bike lane, as an alternative sustainable mobility option. Calle Estudiante: 3 companies seek to win the contract. For the urban renewal of Calle Estudiante and its area of influence, the public act was held on March 27, with three bidders presenting the following amounts: Centroequipos S.A.: $2,500,393.91; Consorcio Aceras Panamá: $2,105,875.50; Ingeniería REC, S.A.: $2,559,735.61. The project, located in the vicinity of the National Institute, will cover 7,882 square meters and a length of 1,322 linear meters, divided into four sections. The objective, according to the municipality, is to transform the capital's center into a more accessible, safe, and sustainable environment. Those who repeat. Three bidders repeat their presence in the tenders in the three processes called separately. These are Centroequipos, S.A., Ingeniería REC, S.A., and Consorcio Aceras Panamá, whose names appear as bidders in all three public acts. The bidders are: Construcciones y Mantenimiento General S.A.: $8,680,957.08; Centroequipos S.A.: $6,230,530.24; Ingeniería REC, S.A.: $6,453,364.20; Consorcio Vértice: $6,090,777.00; Consorcio C&T 5 de Mayo: $6,915,410.00; Consorcio Aceras Panamá: $6,985,828.84; Consorcio Gana-Oti: $6,054,689.85. According to the terms of the tender, the 5 de Mayo project will cover the districts of Santa Ana and Calidonia, and includes the study, design, and construction of an integral intervention to improve walkability, public space ordering, and road safety. The three projects were tendered separately and are currently advancing in their phase of competition between interested companies. Who is interested in 5 de Mayo? During the public act for opening proposals to change the face of the 5 de Mayo area, which for a long time has been full of street vendors and the homeless, seven economic offers were presented, all in electronic format and accepted outright. It also includes the planting of 104 native trees and works for stormwater management. The Municipality maintains that the proposals must strictly adhere to the established technical standards, without reducing the scope of the works, including all phases of analysis, design, and construction. This occurred on March 20 of last year. It includes sidewalk expansion, vehicle speed reduction, obstacle elimination, safe crossings, urban furniture, LED lighting, and the integration of 11 kiosks for micro-entrepreneurs.
