Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino stated that with this new export, the country's revenues will be higher, and therefore the benefits will be greater for all Panamanians. He reiterated that the decision on the project's future will be based on the results of a comprehensive audit and advice from international experts from countries like Chile, where responsible mining is conducted. Mulino assured that he will not make decisions that prioritize private interests over the common good and that everything will be communicated transparently to the country. He also indicated that part of the royalties received at the end of last year will be invested in the expansion and equipment of the Coclesito health center, electrical improvements in Nueva Esperanza, upgrades to the water collection system in Llano Grande and Llano Norte, the generation of 5,000 new jobs in the "Mi Primer Empleo" program, among other projects. The approval of the Copper Mine Preservation and Safe Management Plan allowed more than 500 people to re-enter the labor market after two years of paralysis following the cessation of operations; a report from First Quantum revealed that the majority of the hires (67%) reside in the communities adjacent to the project; the rest (33%) belong to other areas of the country. Job fairs, organized by the municipalities of La Pintada, Donoso, and Omar Torrijos Herrera, brought together more than 4,000 citizens, evidencing the need and urgency they have to find a formal job; however, priority was given to those living in the mine's areas of influence because they have been the most affected by its suspension. According to the document, with these new hires, the mine reaches an approximate workforce of 1,600 Panamanians that could increase to 2,300 if the Government decides to process the rock material still in the area, as this process will require the collaboration of at least 700 more people. Recently, President José Raúl Mulino informed that the possibility of processing the already extracted material is being analyzed, under strict technical and environmental parameters, to allocate its revenues to the execution of social works at the national level. He mentioned that the prolonged presence of this material in the area could generate environmental risks; therefore, he requested the ministers of Environment, Trade and Industries, and Economy and Finance to coordinate its processing and export legally. The head of state clarified that this measure does not imply the reopening of the mine; on the contrary, it seeks "to resolve pending issues, preserve the environment, and recover resources".
