Panama City, Panama – The much-anticipated San Miguelito Cable Car project has received official approval from the Panamanian government, marking a significant step towards improving transportation infrastructure in the region. President José Raúl Mulino’s administration has prioritized the project and aims to begin construction as soon as possible, according to an announcement made to San Miguelito Mayor Irma Hernández during a meeting at the Presidential Palace.

Mayor Hernández emphasized the critical need for the cable car, citing it as a vital solution for San Miguelito residents. She also used the opportunity to advocate for the district, urging the President to address pressing issues such as waste management, water shortages, and the completion of several stalled infrastructure projects, including the new Santa Librada School, the San Isidro Health Center, and the San Isidro Zona Paga.

Prior to her meeting with the President, Mayor Hernández held coordination sessions with José Ramón Icaza, Secretary of Goals and Minister of Canal Affairs, and Juan Carlos Orillac, Minister of the Presidency. These meetings focused on assessing the status of ongoing projects and aligning priorities to effectively serve the needs of San Miguelito’s population. Minister Orillac assured Mayor Hernández that the government would follow up with local authorities to ensure the completion of the unfinished infrastructure projects, and both parties agreed to establish regular coordination meetings to monitor the progress of the cable car and other district initiatives.

The Cabinet Council officially declared the cable car project, spanning the districts of Panama and San Miguelito, to be of public interest through Resolution No. 78-24, issued on August 20, 2024. This declaration authorizes Metro de Panamá, S.A. to initiate the necessary studies and begin the process of selecting a concessionaire for the project, operating under the Administrative Concession System. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has been authorized to allocate the necessary funds for this selection process.

The primary objective of the cable car system is to serve residents in Panama and San Miguelito whose transportation needs are not adequately met by Metro Lines 1 and 2 or the Metrobus fleet, due to the challenging topography of their neighborhoods.

In related news, the Cegygsa-Serpinco Consortium, comprised of G&G SA Specialized Consultancies and Serpinco, SA, has been awarded the contract to conduct the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) for the cable car project. Their winning bid of an undisclosed amount undercut five other competitors, including the Environmental Development Corporation (Codesa), which submitted the second lowest bid at $151,401. The initial tender had a reference price of $187,650. Cegygsa-Serpinco will have eight months to complete the environmental study once they receive the order to proceed from the Panama Metro.

Alongside the cable car project approval, the Cabinet also passed Resolution No. 77-24 on August 20, 2024, amending a previous resolution to increase the economic limit of the Compensation and Social Assistance Program (PCAS) for vulnerable individuals displaced by the construction of Line 3 of the Panama Metro. The amended resolution raises the program limit from B/.3,437,270 to B/.4,780,000 and introduces a new provision capping financial support to affected private property owners at B/.2,500, subject to certain conditions.

The San Miguelito Cable Car project represents a significant step forward in improving transportation options and addressing the needs of the district's residents, promising enhanced connectivity and infrastructure in the near future.