The National Assembly of Panama held a busy agenda covering administrative reforms, social welfare, and the economy. The Municipal Affairs Commission held the first unified debate on Bills 313 and 365, proposing structural changes to the 2009 Law on the Decentralization of Public Administration. In the realm of education and social well-being, the Education, Culture, and Sports Commission heard from Dr. Eduardo Flores Castro and Dr. Mirna MacLauglin Anderson, who reported on university accreditation under the 2015 Law. The Women's Commission held a technical roundtable to amend the General Adoption Law. In the economic sphere, the Economy and Finance Commission took the first debate on Bill 500, aimed at strengthening ITBMS revenue through electronic payments, and Bill 504 on transparency in public contracts. The Budget Commission evaluated budget transfers and additional credits for entities such as the Sanitation Authority, the Panama Metro, and the Ministry of Public Works. The Environment Commission focused on natural resource management, presenting a report on the modernization of water management and discussing the protection of green areas and wave sanctuaries. Meanwhile, a Commerce subcommittee analyzed Bill 552 to establish balance in bank credit contracts, and the Credentials Commission addressed reforms to the Organic Rules of the Internal Regime of the National Assembly before the regular afternoon plenary session.
