On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, various legislative committees of the National Assembly of Panama are in session to consider projects on cultural heritage, educational modernization, and environmental sustainability. The National Assembly of Panama maintains a diversified agenda this Wednesday through its various legislative committees, addressing issues that directly impact education, health, culture, and the environment. From early hours, deputies are evaluating draft laws that range from the modernization of initial education centers to the protection of historical sites in various provinces of the country. Education and Culture: Heritage and School Texts In the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, key sponsorships are being considered, such as Draft Bill 359, aimed at incorporating the Family and Community Centers for Initial Education (CEFACE) into the regular subsystem. In terms of heritage, the corresponding legislative committees are evaluating the declaration of the current headquarters of the French Alliance and the bridge over the Changuinola River in Bocas del Toro as historical monuments. The cultural agenda also includes first debates for the creation of patronages in venues such as the Roberto Mariano Bula Stadium in Colón and the Ernesto J. Castillero R. National Library, as well as the recognition of the Peligreño drum as intangible heritage. Health and Institutional Transparency Meanwhile, the Labor, Health, and Social Development Committee receives the management of the Social Security Fund, the Gorgas Commemorative Institute, and the Ministry of Social Development. Draft Bill 377 for the reuse of school textbooks is also being discussed. The first debate of Bill 508 stands out, which seeks to establish a legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the Gulf of Chiriquí, an area of high ecological importance for the country. Other legislative topics of interest • Municipal Affairs: Bill 460 is being studied to formalize street vendors and the equitable distribution of the vehicle circulation tax. • Women and Family: Additional benefits for visual health for people with disabilities are being analyzed through amendments to Law 134. • Credentials: The appointment of the new director of the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence, and Family (SENNIAF) and reforms to the Organic Regulations of the Internal Regime of the Assembly are being considered. The day will conclude with the Ordinary Plenary Session scheduled for 3:30 p.m., where the follow-up of the topics discussed in the morning and afternoon sessions is expected.
