Mulino inspects Portobelo church restoration, now 56% complete

Panama President José Raúl Mulino inspected the restoration of San Felipe Church and San Juan de Dios Chapel in Portobelo, where the project has reached 56% completion.

During his visit to the Caribbean coast, Mulino toured the work areas and spoke with workers and residents. He recalled a promise made before the presidential election: “I told him that, if I won, I would build the church.”

The Unidos por El Nazareno de Portobelo consortium is carrying out the B/.12.2 million project. Plans include restoring San Felipe Church, building front and side plazas, restoring San Juan de Dios Chapel, repairing surrounding streets, constructing an annex, and creating a new museum.

The project directly employs 64 people, nearly 90% of them local workers. Eleven women from Portobelo are among those employed, which authorities describe as an opportunity for jobs and skills transfer within the community.

Work includes the church facade, a new roof, interior spaces, the main altarpiece, the presbytery, a side door, and the access route to the chapel. The main and side facades and the new plazas are scheduled for completion by the October 21 festivities. The annex is due in December 2026, the church in January 2027, and the surrounding streets in February. The chapel’s facade and roof are already finished, while workers are completing the furnishings and equipment for the Hospitalitas Civitas museum.

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I told him that, if I won, I would build the church.