The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of Panama had to go to the National Assembly to request a budget transfer to finance the cleanup of these areas, a key step to negotiate with the Panama Canal Authority. After a “long and arduous” process, the value of the land increased from $26 million to $100 million. The previous PRD government's management almost caused the Panamanian state to lose nearly $90 million due to mismanaged contaminated land in the Reverted Areas. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman, revealed that upon taking office, they found appraisals valuing this land at just $26 million, a figure he described as very low. He explained that the reduced price was due to contamination with munitions, a result of old U.S. military practices. Even after deducting sanitation costs, the net benefit to the state amounts to about $90 million. “Our task is to work for the Panamanian people and obtain the greatest possible amount of resources,” Chapman assured. The case reveals the lack of strategic vision in the previous administration, which was about to cost the country a huge sum of money.
