OFF THE CUFF: Municipalities get closer to the cookie jar

PANAMA’S Cabinet Council has approved the draft law governing the municipal decentralization and authorized Minister of the Presidency Álvaro Alemán to present it to the National Assembly.

The law, if approved, will enter into force Jan. 1, 2016. It will include the transfer of $150 million to local governments for investment in community projects. Meanwhile Panama City has listed a $3.7 million Christmas parade lasting a couple of hours as a key project/
“With decentralization, the 78 mayors and 648 representatives of townships in the country can respond quickly to the needs of their areas,” said President Juan Carlos Varela during the Cabinet session.
The document has been discussed by stakeholder groups at six meetings