The Budget Committee of the National Assembly of Panama approved two budget transfers to the Judicial Branch for the start of the bidding process for the construction of regional headquarters in the provinces of Los Santos and Veraguas. María Cristina Cheng Stanziola, presiding magistrate of the Court, presented the transfer request to cover the initial needs of the procedures for the execution of both works, which she considered important to meet the growing demand from users in both provinces. Stanziola told committee members that rental payments must be made in both provinces for an amount close to $2 million. She added that these are offices located in different points, which makes it difficult for users to access the system. The magistrate also explained that the construction of both headquarters will represent a significant saving for the Judicial Branch. The funds will also be used to create 180 positions for manual workers and outsourced personnel who perform maintenance and cleaning tasks at the institution. The Judicial Branch will open a database for interested persons, from which a selection will be made according to the aptitudes of each applicant. The magistrate also referred to the progress in the implementation of the judicial career, in which a total of 600 officials have already entered. She assured that it is a process that remains in permanent execution. Meanwhile, magistrate Olmedo Arrocha, who was also present at the Budget Committee, referred to the progress in the implementation of the new Civil Code, which has shortened the processing time of cases in that jurisdiction. He reported that in about four to five years, the process of clearing up the cases processed under the previous system should be completed.
