The Panamanian government has allocated $130,000 from the Coiba Fund to strengthen environmental management and develop sustainable tourism in the Veraguas province. Minister of the Environment Juan Carlos Navarro, during a working tour, delivered equipment and materials to local municipalities. This initiative aligns with the Government's Strategic Plan 2024-2029, aiming to enhance inter-institutional collaboration for the protection of natural heritage. In the Mariato district, materials were provided for the construction of six photographic shelters and showers in the Palo Seco coastal area, as well as motorized equipment for maintaining common-use areas. The Montijo municipality received a double-cab pickup truck for waste management, spare parts for the municipal vessel, and tools for the Mutis port. In Soná, the focus was on sustainable tourism, with materials for public restrooms in Santa Catalina, the installation of 30 solar LED lamps at the landfill, and vegetation-cutting equipment. Río de Jesús received a dump truck for garbage collection, a grass-cutting tractor, lighting supplies, and 200 seedlings for local reforestation programs. The Ministry of the Environment highlighted that these funds, derived from tourist entry fees to Coiba National Park, are crucial for boosting ecotourism and community-based tourism. Furthermore, the initiative addresses public health challenges through more efficient solid waste management and the sanitation of public spaces. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to using Coiba Fund resources to ensure the well-being of the Veraguas population, ensuring the region's economic development advances in tandem with the protection of local ecosystems.
