The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, noted this Thursday a 56% advance in the restoration works of the Church San Felipe, the St. John's Chapel of God and its surroundings, at Portobelo, Colón Province, a project that represents an integral intervention for the protection of this important national heritage.

During a work tour of the Atlantic coast, President Mulino inspected the advance of the work, talked with the workers and with the locals who are waiting for the culmination of the church, which as well as being a symbol of faith, represents an important tourist point in the province.

He was accompanied by the first lady of the Republic, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, the Minister of Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, the General Administrator of Tourism, Gloria de León and the high Commissioner and honorem of the work, Ricardo Gago Salinero.

The visit allowed first-hand information about the progress of the different phases of the project, which responded to the campaign promise that President Mulino assumed with Portobelo and Colón Province, to recover, protect and value spaces that are part of Panama's history and cultural identity.

"I made a promise to the Christ of Portobelo a week before the election, and here we are keeping his promise," the president recalled. "I told him that if I won, I was going to make his church," he added.

This work, by the consortium Unidad por El Nazareno de Portobelo, S.A., is run with an investment of B / .12.2 million. It includes the Church San Felipe, with a front and a side square, the St. John's Chapel, the surrounding streets, the new attached building and a museum.

Currently 64 people are directly linked to the implementation of the project: 50 plant workers from the consortium and 14 from their contractor. About 90% of the labour force are local, making this restoration an important opportunity for employment and knowledge transfer for the Portobelo community itself, and with an emphasis on the participation of 11 Portobelan women in the work.
"Local jobs are being hired and that's very important and I have been greatly satisfied with this passing wind," the president said.

Mulino was able to observe the intervention of the exterior façade, the placement of a new cover and the restoration of the inner spaces.

During his journey, his agent also received a report about his work and his actions at his presbytery as well as his actions at his side door and his access to the St. John's Chapel.

He also seduced the moment to light candles before the Christ of Portobelo, asking for the health and well-being of all colonians.

The schedule lays down that, for the celebrations of October 21, the San Felipe Church will be completely restored to its main and lateral façade and that the new squares will be ready for the enjoyment of the community and the visitors.
The completion of the attached building is scheduled for December of this year, while the Church of San Felipe will have to be fully ready by January 2027 and the streets of the surroundings a month later.
The St. John's Chapel of God currently has its façade and its cover ready. Currently we work with the furniture and equipment of the new museum, to be called Civil Hospitalities, a Latino expression that refers to the town of hospitality.

The project aims to preserve the architecture, memory and religious meaning of this historic ensemble, guaranteeing better conditions for the community and for the thousands of pilgrims who come to Portobelo every year to venerate the Black Christ.

With this restoration, the National Government, through the Ministry of Culture, advances with a firm step in the recovery of a heritage that belongs to all Panamanians.