Due to Potential Damage to Bijao Beach in Panama the Ministry of the Environment Halts Construction of a Hotel Project
Miambiente ordered the suspension of a hotel project in Playa Bijao, after detecting unauthorized interventions and possible impacts on the riverbed, water quality and the marine-coastal ecosystem.
On August 8, 2026, Panama’s Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) ordered the immediate halt of construction on a stormwater and sanitary collector linked to a hotel project at Playa Bijao in Antón, Coclé Province, due to unauthorized riverbed interventions and risks of marine-coastal degradation.
Inspection Findings and Violations
- Missing permits: The builders lacked required authorizations for working in a water body and had no concession for wastewater discharges.
- Environmental risks: Field evaluations by the National Directorate for Environmental Performance Verification (DIVEDA) revealed threats of erosion, sediment buildup, and compromised water quality.
Requirements and Penalties
- 24-hour window: Project operators were given 24 hours to prove they had initiated proper wastewater concession filings.
- Strict enforcement: Further unauthorized work risks pipe plugging, permanent project cancellation, structure demolition, or criminal referrals under Executive Decree No. 3 of 2026.
The Ministry of Environment (Miambiente) reported, through a statement, that it ordered the immediate halt of work to build a stormwater and sanitary sewer collector for a hotel project located in Playa Bijao, in the district of Antón, province of Coclé, after detecting environmental irregularities and a possible impact on the marine-coastal ecosystem. During the inspection, interventions were also identified that could alter the natural behavior of the riverbed, cause erosion and sedimentation processes, and affect water quality.
