Bill 679.

Summary.

The bill requires QR codes on signs for public works under construction and existing public infrastructure undertaken, contracted, managed, or completed by the Central Government, autonomous and semi-autonomous entities, and local governments of the Republic of Panama. The codes would give the public access to information about those works and assets. The text links their condition and maintenance to the preservation of public investment. The linked information would be limited to data already held in official systems, such as “Panamá en Obras,” operated by the Directorate General of Public Procurement (Dirección General de Contrataciones Públicas) and the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información), and “VEO,” operated by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República). It would include the identity of the project, institutions, and contractors; the contract or agreement; the awarded amount and its annexes; the timeframe; oversight; project stages and available progress information; and environmental information already disclosed, where applicable.

For completed infrastructure, the link would include available information about its condition and maintenance work performed. Implementing institutions and local governments would have to report that information and keep it current on official platforms. Implementation would follow principles of access, disclosure, integration with existing platforms, communication with authorities, public oversight, use of accessible technologies, standardization, and sign visibility.

The sign would have to include the traceability QR code and the wording specified in Article 5, arranged in no more than three centered lines. Its minimum dimensions would be 30 cm wide by 20 cm high. It would have a contrasting background, uppercase letters, and Arial Black or a similar typeface, without italics or decoration. Depending on the work, it would be placed at the front or in the most visible location, between 1.40 m and 1.70 m above the ground, and could not be obscured by advertising, vegetation, or other elements.

For works under construction, responsibility for noncompliance would fall on the official responsible for supervising or overseeing them and, if the contract expressly includes signage, on the contractor. For completed infrastructure, it would fall on the official responsible for managing or maintaining the asset. The National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (ANTAI) would oversee compliance and impose sanctions under Law 33 of April 25, 2013 and Law 6 of January 22, 2002, without prejudice to other liabilities. If noncompliance were attributable to a contractor, the implementing institution would refer it to the Directorate General of Public Procurement for purposes of the debarment provisions in the Consolidated Text of Law 22 of 2006.

The bill adds to Law 6 of January 22, 2002 a requirement to periodically publish an updated list of works and infrastructure subject to QR identification, with their location, status, and official link, as well as information the State would provide on request about progress, condition, and maintenance. It also adds to Law 33 of April 25, 2013 the Authority’s oversight power and the information officer’s duty to provide and update those data. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas) and in coordination with the named entities, would issue technical guidelines without creating mandatory additional expenditure or interfering with the administrative organization of implementing entities. It would issue implementing regulations within 90 business days of promulgation; the law would take effect the following day.

Given its subject matter, the bill concerns public entities that carry out, manage, oversee, and contract public works, as well as local governments. It could also be of interest to contractors, users of public infrastructure, and people seeking information about public works and maintenance.