National Government instates new inter-institutional commission to promote heritage and tourism value of Casco Antiguo

Panama, 11 September 2020. The President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, adopted Executive Decree No. 572 of 10 September 2020 establishing an inter-institutional commission that will conduct the priority actions necessary to rehabilitate and strengthen the historic architecture of the Casco Antiguo of Panama City, declared a world heritage by the UNESCO and one of the main tourist attractions of the country.

The Commission, which will strengthen the governance of the important and complex capital district, will be led by the Tourist Cabinet (GT), attached to the Ministry of the Presidency and coordinating and performing the main tasks to strengthen the sector with the extensive and prompt participation of the institutions related to the requirements of infrastructure, services, mobility, transport, promotion, environment and culture, inter alia, aimed at the value of the national tourism offer.

That commission responded to the decision of the National Government to design, plan and conduct a post-pandemic emergency action to re-evaluate the Casco Antiguo and its immediate environment, taking into account both neighbours and visitors and tourists and their respective profiles and activities.

The Executive Decree lays down an immediate development of a programme for short- and medium-term and dual-time recommendations and actions: the "Emergency Plan 2020," directed by the Ministry of Culture through the Office of the Casco Antiguo (OCA), with proposals for prompt implementation with regard to road and pedestrian traffic, use of public space, collection of waste, safety, parking and cultural activities, inter alia, that are expected by 30 September, and the "Plan of Action 2021- 2024," which includes shortterm improvements that require significant financial and financial operations at the latest by 2021.

The technical secretariat of the Tourist Cabinet shall be the Government body with responsibility for monitoring and monitoring the approved plans and shall chair the commission and representation of the Ministry of the President.

Up to 14 ministries and institutions, as well as the Panama House of Tourism, are members of the new commission, open by invitation and with powers to other government agencies, local governments, the private sector, investors, residents and members of the community at large (only with a right to a voice), with a view to providing ideas and recommendations about plans for the Casco Antiguo, of undeniable value and interest to all Panamanians.

The projects already identified to run at the Casco Antiguo include awareness programs for waste recycling and its integral management, a workshop school for Santa Ana, cultural streets, gastronomic paths, new lighting, a master plan for mobility, public electrical transport, beach and mangrove recovery and a video monitoring system, to be run with financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (BID).

The Commission will be working jointly up to 2024.

The institutions that form them are as follows:

- Ministry of the President

- The Ministry of Culture

- Ministry of Education

- Ministry of Public Security

- Ministry of Public Works

- Ministry of Government

- Tourism Authority

- Urban and Domiciliary Seat Authority

National Council for Sustainable Development

- Transit and Ground Transport Authority

National police

- Institutional Protection Service

- Mayor of Panama

- Massivo transport from Panama

- Panama House of Tourism