Draft bill 149.

Summary.

The draft bill creates the José Agustín Donderis Miranda Decoration as a national honorary medal for Panamanian or foreign individuals whose extraordinary achievements benefit the Republic of Panama or its population in comprehensive disaster risk management and civil protection. An award would confer no remuneration or property, employment, or pension rights. Decisions would follow principles including objectivity, equality, impartiality, transparency, merit, and reasoned decision-making. The medal would be gold, with its specifications and award conditions set by regulation.

Eligible recipients would have to demonstrate extraordinary, verifiable contributions through activities, research, projects, innovations, services, humanitarian action, or professional work. The bill identifies prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, protection of life and property, warning systems, education, cooperation, recovery, and innovation as relevant fields. Ordinary performance of a job or profession alone would not suffice.

The bill creates the Commission for the José Agustín Donderis Miranda Decoration (Comisión de la Condecoración José Agustín Donderis Miranda) as an honorary technical evaluation body supported by the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) while retaining technical independence. Its seven members would include the Minister of Government or a designee, the Director General of the National Civil Protection System (Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil), and representatives of the Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama (Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de la República de Panamá), a public university, specialists, and civil society. External members would need to establish their qualifications. A direct interest or other circumstance affecting impartiality would bar membership or require recusal recorded in the file. The Commission would check documents, apply selection criteria, make reasoned recommendations, keep a register of recipients, and recommend revocation where appropriate.

Institutions, organizations, and individuals could submit documented nominations, but self-nomination would be barred. Each file would include personal and professional details, a statement of achievements, supporting evidence, and a declaration that the information is authentic. The Commission would assess relevance, impact, innovation, ethical conduct, and documented results. Calls for nominations would be public; regulations would set operational requirements, and legally protected confidential or restricted information would be safeguarded. The Commission could recommend making no award. Awards would not be automatic: the President of the Republic would grant the medal by a reasoned resolution following the Commission’s recommendation. Presentation would take place at an official ceremony, preferably on August 4, or during a period connected with prevention or civil protection. Recipients would also receive a certificate.

The medal could be revoked for fraud, concealment of relevant facts, or a final judgment for a serious intentional crime incompatible with the distinction. The person concerned would receive notice and an opportunity to present a defense and evidence before the President issued a reasoned decision on the Commission’s recommendation. The Ministry of Government (Ministerio de Gobierno), with support from SINAPROC, would maintain the National Register subject to personal data protection rules. The Executive Branch would issue regulations through that ministry within no more than six (6) months of promulgation. The subject matter could interest civil protection bodies, universities, research centers, humanitarian organizations, and risk management professionals.