Panama’s Senniaf States it was a Lack of Resources that Created Bad Management

The National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and Families (Senniaf) is responsible for 713 minors in various centers, but lacks metrics to evaluate its management and clear records on minors who have escaped from the shelters it administers.  Senniaf lacks performance indicators for last year and also lacks concrete data on minors who escaped from the shelters it manages.  This became evident during the entity’s appearance before the National Assembly, in response to questions from the Commission on Women, Children, Youth and Family, in which the acting director Andrea Vega appeared. 

The official is the third in the current administration, following the scandals of alleged sexual and physical abuse being investigated by the Public Ministry at the Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) of Tocumen; when Ana Melinda Fábrega Guardia pictured above was in charge of Senniaf.  “We don’t have that information,” Vega replied, noting that he had only been in the position for 10 days but had his support team from the Secretariat to answer the questions. 

“Everything that is not measured cannot be improved,” retorted Deputy Ernesto Cedeño pictured above, of the Another Way Movement, who questioned the indicators.  In turn, the president of the commission, Alexandra Brenes, from Vamos, asked if measures had been taken to prevent the escape of vulnerable children, given that she had learned of girls from a shelter who escaped three weeks ago, to which Senniaf indicated that fences and security cameras had been implemented.

‘Without an Adequate Budget’

For its part, the institution responsible for the care of 713 minors in 48 care centers emphasized that the budget was not in line with the needs. For example, for the year 2026 they had requested a budget of $17.6 million in order to increase the staff caring for the minors, but they received half: $8.6 million.  In the last two years, the budget was lower than in 2023.  “Since they left us the care centers in 2020, the budget has been reduced…

How do we care for a population of children with a reduced budget?  We cannot offer them medicine, clothing, food, how do we cope without an adequate budget?” asked Caroline Ruiz, a lawyer in the rights restitution department of Senniaf.  Of the 2025 budget, which according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) was $8.1 million, $380,000 was allocated for investment and of that, $186,000 was used for the perimeter wall of the Tocumen CAI, reported María Him, finance director of Senniaf. 

Last year the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) allowed them a line of credit of $1.6 million, and this year the investment has a limit of $250,000, she added.  “Less than last year, the MEF circular has already arrived,” Maria Him said.  Given these proposals, Representative Cedeño questioned why, just as a Pet Hospital is being proposed, which costs $14.1 million, the country’s needs are not being reevaluated.  “Mr. President and those who are listening, if we are talking about a budget cut, let’s do it in an area that does not affect the human race and vulnerable people.  The Pet Hospital is spectacular, but the priority, in my opinion, is the children…,” he added.

Direct Contracts

The food service at the Tocumen CAI was another point of controversy: it was directly contracted for $139,500 to the company Marbez Distribution Corp through an exceptional process, and this year the service will be extended for $111,600, officials confirmed.  “We are talking about a direct hire; having a remodeled kitchen was the priority at that time,” Brenes questioned.  “To exploit the pain of others for dramatic effect”  After two hours of discussions between officials from the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families (Senniaf) and members of the congressional committee, Representative Dana Castañeda, from the Realizando Metas party, interrupted the proceedings, stating that the problems being discussed within the agency were not new and that “we shouldn’t exploit the pain of others for political gain,” but rather that they should be “allies in this situation, which cannot be aired in the media.”

She added that Vega was being held responsible for the institution’s record, which did not correspond to her tenure.  Brenes pictured above to the right, the president of the Commission, replied that “all the questions were correct because Vega arrived accompanied by her team.”  The questioning took place in the Blue Room of the Justo Arosemena Palace. Senniaf has been under public scrutiny since Brenes reported alleged abuses and negligent treatment at the Tocumen Immediate Attention Center (CAI) to the Attorney General’s Office last month.  Three weeks later, former director Fábrega resigned, and the Executive appointed Otilia Rodríguez, who remained in the position for less than a day.

Rodríguez previously served as director of Protection at the CAIs (Comprehensive Care Centers) and had at least three criminal complaints against her for alleged negligence. Subsequently, Andrea Vega pictured above, Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Development, was put in charge of Senniaf (National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents, and Families) on March 4. The ratification of the designated director, Lilibeth Cárdenas, is expected Wednesday before the Credentials, Regulations, Parliamentary Ethics, and Judicial Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.