The General Comptroller's Office of Panama has initiated an audit of the Agricultural Development Bank (BDA) due to alleged irregularities in the granting of loans to small producers. According to Javier Carrizo Esquivel, the bank's general manager, the investigation focuses on the allocation of 470 loans totaling 7.6 million dollars. Carrizo Esquivel detailed that the Comptroller's auditors are already working at the BDA facilities, an institution that has not been audited in the last 20 years, with the last audit conducted in 2005. The general manager stated that if irregularities in the loans are confirmed, legal actions will be taken against those responsible. Regarding the transformation of the BDA into an Agricultural Development Institute, Carrizo Esquivel explained that this restructuring will require presenting a bill to the National Assembly.
