Chiriquí residents denounce flooding after road construction in Paja Blanca

Residents of Paja Blanca in Chiriquí province are calling on authorities and the construction company to address severe flooding issues that have affected their community. The recent inundations, occurring with the onset of the rainy season, have impacted several homes, prompting urgent calls for improved drainage and sewage systems.

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We are noticing that it is not controlled. What will happen when the rainy season is much longer? We will lose our belongings and risk our lives. It is not fair that a project of millions of dollars comes to affect us because they did not do the proper studies in the stipulated times.

The construction of a new road linking Alanje to the popular La Barqueta beach is seen as the primary cause of the problem. While acknowledging the project's potential to boost local tourism, residents argue that inadequate planning and execution have led to negative consequences for nearby communities. Angélica Bonilla, a local resident, expressed frustration, stating, "We are noticing that it is not controlled. What will happen when the rainy season is much longer? We will lose our belongings and risk our lives." She questioned the value of a multi-million dollar project that negatively affects residents due to a lack of proper studies.

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We are left unprotected and no one watches over our interests, because it is the MOP that must watch over our interests.

Bonilla further lamented the lack of protection for community interests, emphasizing that the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) should be safeguarding their well-being. Ester Olave shared similar concerns, highlighting the immediate impact on homes: "They need to remove the blockages because our houses are flooding. There is a woman whose kitchen is flooded. They haven't built adequate ditches; the road itself is beautiful." The residents' pleas underscore a critical need for infrastructure projects to incorporate comprehensive environmental and community impact assessments, ensuring that development benefits the region without displacing or endangering its inhabitants.

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They need to remove the blockages because our houses are flooding. There is a woman whose kitchen is flooded. They haven't built adequate ditches; the road itself is beautiful.