The Ministry of Culture opens tender for Portobelo Customs

Panama, 7 July 2020 -The Ministry of Culture held at the Anita Villalaz Theater the Act of Reception and Opening of proposals for the National Public tender for the Restoration of Customs at Portobelo, located in Portobelo Province of Colón.

That project will be financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID) at a price of about two million seven hundred and forty-five thousand and fourteen dollars with 35 centuries (B / .2,745,01435) and emerges from the need for care required by the walls of the building as well as its cover and the development and implementation of the museum of slavery with the Museography of the Portobelo Customs.

The production time of the work will be 18 months and will be performed in three (3) phases, from the order to proceed, phase I - Study, design, development of plans and approval of plans for construction of the project to restore the Customs of Portobelo, phase II - Construction and phase III Museum works (manufacture and installation of furniture, installation of graphic material, assembly of museum parts among others.

Katti OSorio's National Director of historic heritage expressed "with his acceptance of expressions of interest for the National Public Licitation N ° 2020-1-30-0-03-LP-011460 for the Restoration of the Customs of Portobelo, a national historic monument, the Ministry of Culture moves forward with the goals of an action plan by bringing together forces of President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, to promote, preserve and safeguard national historic monuments."

The Customs of Portobelo lies at the banks of the beautiful Bay of Portobelo in the world heritage before UNESCO "Ftifications of the Caribbean Coast of Panama: Portobelo and San Lorenzo," so Customs, as an old entrance door to the international routes of the Isthmus of Panama during the Spanish colonial period and part of the global heritage environment, was part of our country's presence in world history, added OSorio.

The Customs of Portobelo was one of the most important buildings at that time. Built between 1630 and 1634, its structure responded to the Renaissance model, brought by the Spanish to these lands. That building was used as a warehouse, fiscal office, warehouse of the real boxes, residence of the Governor and of the real officials.

The aim of this work is to be able to rescue the Portobelo Customs Building as an element of the Portobelo Historical Monument to safeguard its authenticity and integrity and to ensure its function within the community.