A company that was shown the door in San Miguelito is now trying to sneak in through the back door in Panama. This is Pronto Aseo, a firm that failed to meet the requirements in the garbage collection bidding process in that district and, despite that background, is now trying to worm its way into the multimillion-dollar capital cleaning process. The alert was raised by journalist Álvaro Alvarado on his Noticias 180 program, where he revealed he had received information about the company's attempt to enter the new public bidding process, despite having been previously discarded by the Evaluation Commission in another municipality. The company intends to compete for Zone 4, which covers Tocumen, Pedregal, Las Mañanitas, Juan Díaz, Las Garzas, San Martín, 24 de Diciembre and Pacora, areas with high waste generation and significant budgetary impact. The proposal would include additional costs, as the waste would be first transported to the Paso Blanco transfer station in Pacora and then to Cerro Patacón, which would represent an additional cost of close to 58 dollars per ton. This scenario forces the Capital District Evaluation Commission to scrutinize the maneuver with a magnifying glass and act with transparency, remembering that its higher body is the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP). The failure to fulfill functional duties can lead to administrative, civil and criminal liabilities, especially when public funds and an essential service for the city are at stake.
