Summary.
The draft bill proposes a Special Seismic Emergency Regime and a national system for response and reconstruction after earthquakes or other emergencies. It would operate alongside the disaster prevention system led by the National Civil Protection System (Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil, SINAPROC), attached to the Ministry of Government and Justice (Ministerio de Gobierno y Justicia) under Law No. 7 of February 11, 2005. It would apply throughout Panama when an event’s magnitude, intensity, or damage calls for coordination among public bodies, the private sector, and civil society. It defines risk, state of emergency, disaster, prevention, and impact zone; its definition assigns declaration of a state of emergency to the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo).
It places events in Level 1, involving limited local impact without collapse of critical infrastructure; Level 2, involving significant damage across a region; or Level 3, involving nationwide impact or demands beyond regional response capacity. The Directorate General of SINAPROC (Dirección General del SINAPROC) would declare Levels 1 and 2 and immediately inform the Ministry of Government and Justice. The Cabinet Council (Consejo de Gabinete) would declare Level 3, without affecting the power to declare a state of urgency under Article 55 of the Political Constitution (Constitución Política). A Level 3 declaration lasting more than ten days would be brought before the Legislative Branch (Órgano Legislativo). A declaration would initially last up to sixty calendar days and could be extended by a reasoned resolution based on an updated SINAPROC technical report.
The National Seismic Emergency Commission (Comisión Nacional de Emergencia Sísmica), attached to SINAPROC, would include representatives of the Institute of Geosciences (Instituto de Geociencias), Ministry of Public Works (Ministerio de Obras Públicas), Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), Ministry of Housing (Ministerio de Vivienda), Panama Fire Department (Cuerpo de Bomberos de Panamá), Panamanian Red Cross (Cruz Roja Panameña), and Technological University of Panama (Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá). It would coordinate operations and validate technical reports concerning declarations. In each impact zone, a committee chaired by the municipal authority would coordinate initial response, register affected people, and establish temporary shelters under national coordination.
During an emergency, state entities could use the special procedure in Article 79 of Law 22 of 2006 and would publish procurement reports every two weeks. The Commission would work through the National Authority for Government Innovation (Autoridad Nacional para la Innovación Gubernamental) to establish cellphone alerts. SINAPROC could mobilize the National Volunteer Corps (Cuerpo Nacional de Voluntarios) and request support from the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública) and international organizations. Competent entities would provide shelters, emergency medical care, and basic supplies, giving priority to vulnerable people.
Publicly funded reconstruction would comply with the Structural Design Regulations for the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá), supervised by the Ministry of Housing (Ministerio de Viviendas). The National Seismic Emergency Fund (Fondo Nacional de Emergencia Sísmica) would finance response, the National Seismological Network, and public reconstruction through budget resources, cooperation, and donations. The Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) and SINAPROC would introduce mandatory semiannual drills. The Executive Branch would issue regulations within ninety calendar days; the law would take effect upon promulgation. These provisions would concern civil protection bodies, municipalities, schools, contractors, telecommunications operators, health personnel, and affected communities.
What it proposes.
- Declaration and duration of seismic emergencies.
- Coordination of response, assistance, and early warnings.
- Procurement, funding, and reconstruction in impact zones.
- Earthquake drills in educational centers.
Who it would affect.
- Public entities responsible for response and reconstruction.
- Municipal authorities in impact zones.
- Public and private educational centers.
- People and communities affected by an emergency.
Key points.
- Proposes a special response and reconstruction framework operating alongside the disaster prevention system led by SINAPROC.Arts. 1-2
- Defines applicable terms and classifies emergencies into three levels based on scope and damage.Arts. 3-4
- Assigns declarations to the Directorate General of SINAPROC or the Cabinet Council according to level, and sets their duration and extension.Arts. 5-6
- Creates a national commission and local committees to coordinate response, registration of affected people, and shelters.Arts. 7-8
- Allows emergency procurement, requires reports every two weeks, and provides for cellphone alerts.Art. 9
- Provides for volunteer mobilization, requests for support, and basic assistance that prioritizes vulnerable people.Arts. 10-11
- Subjects publicly funded reconstruction to structural design rules and creates a fund for response, the seismic network, and reconstruction.Arts. 12-13
- Establishes semiannual school drills, a deadline for regulations, and entry into force upon promulgation.Arts. 14-16