Luzdecor would like to remind everyone of the importance of using energy saving light bulbs in both the home and office in Panama. As you already know, electricity is expensive in Panama. Our new MCT3 watt lamps are shaped like a torpedo, and the 2 watt MA2WW, along with the 3WG20 are all cold cathode compact fluorescent and should last up to 25,000 hours. The 3 watt torpedo and the G20 are both dimmable with a regular dimmer, and are designed to replace 40 watt incandescent light bulbs. These cold cathode lamps also do not generate hardly any heat whatsoever, therefore allowing the ambient air to be cooler which in turn allows air conditioning systems to operate more efficiently. This also helps dramatically in the electricity costs. And since these lamps last 4 times as long as conventional compact fluorescent lamps, they do not have to be changed practically at all. This also saves in the trips to the store, gas and time to replace the bulbs. Luzdecor in Panama City, carries a wide range of lamps, bulbs, and all kinds of lighting fixtures.

Contact Information:

• Store Location: Luzdecor is located in Panama City on Calle 50, just past McDonald's on the right-hand side.
  
  
• Telephone: +011 (507) 270-7412
  
  
• Panama Fax: +011 (507) 270-7414
  
  
• USA Fax Number: (772) 325-6405
  
  
• HK Fax: +852-301-49505
  
  
• Email: bigboss@luzdecor.com
  
  
• Website: www.luzdecor.com

   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hello Don. My name Is Michael Monahan from New York. I saw your article on Panama Guide about Panama Project Development Services so I decieded to write to you. I was recently in Pedasi Panama to look after property I purchased a few years ago. Specificaly, I was in Pedasi to deal with a number of drainage and erosion issues which were undermining the road through the property. While I was there i ran into John Brock the president of Panama Project Development Services. John was there setting up an office in Pedasi for his architecture and engineering company in order to serve Azuro area. John agreed to visit the site and to take a look at the drainage and erosion problems. In just a few short hours John developed strategies that are straight foward economical and ecologically responsible.I learned more about grading, drainage, and erosion control from John in one day than all of the supposed engineering advice I had gotten from others over the past few years. I would recommend that anyone thinking about buying land building a home or developing a project in Panama talk to John Brock. I wish I had met him sooner I would have saved a lot of time, money, and frustration. Michael Monahan."

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Luzdecor of Panama is one of the largest lighting companies in Panama City. Located on Calle 50, we have a wide selection of all kinds of lighting fixtures. Our lighting design experts can help you pick and choose the right solution for your needs. We have all available technologies and can find the right mix of solutions for any space or situation. We import and export lighting fixtures through the Colon Free Trade zone, and can provide any level of quality merchandise; high-end one of a kind pieces, to large volume solutions for construction projects. We also specialize in technical and colorized lighting. New lighting fixtures arrive continuously. Modern Italian fixtures are available as well as classic Crystal chandeliers. Wall sconces and flush mounted ceiling fixtures are plentiful in addition to a full line of bathroom vanity fixtures. Tiffany table lamps are a very popular solution for hard to decorate areas. (See Item on Special Sale)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (645 words)

Long On Experience – Low On Overhead - Panama Project Development Services, PANAPROSA, is a group of experienced, senior level planners, architects, engineers and project managers organized and led by John Brock, the original founder of McKinney Internacional. Offering full project design and delivery in the Republic of Panama and surrounding countries, PANAPROSA fills a very specific niche in the Panama real estate and development community. Through very low organizational and operational overhead we offer a seasoned team of successful, bilingual professionals at very competitive fees. Our core practice is dedicated to commercial, industrial and logistics projects; however, we are well experienced in residential design, community planning and construction phase management as well. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (821 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The following was forwarded to me from the owner of Panama Construction Services: - "Dear Doug, I have caught myself numerous times this week just standing in my newly remodeled bathroom staring and admiring your workmanship. I have invited three neighbors over just to show it off !I guess that means I should write this letter and let you know how pleased I am. First of all, the care you took to keep my house clean by putting down drop cloths and keeping the dust vacuumed up was greatly appreciated. I didn't have to clean house at all after your remodel job. Second the quality of your work is fantastic. I especially admire the extra planning and time it took to do the shower stall ceiling. The pattern of the tile around the recessed light is gorgeous. Your timeliness and care was extraordinary. I look forward to hiring you again in the future. Virginia M. Atlanta, Ga"

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Zelideth Cortez for La Critica - Good prospects are expected in 2010 for the construction industry, announced the president of the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC), Jaime Jované. "Despite the financial crisis we expect to finish out 2009 with a growth (in the construction sector) of between 2% and 3%, and we hope during 2010 we will see even better growth of between 4% and 5%, because the government has an aggressive investment plan," said Jované. He said in order to maximize this growth there should be a National Development Plan, which will turn into a state policy based on clear rules, so the expected growth in the construction sector does not conflict with the quality of life of the population. Jovane thinks with the implementation of the new Vice Minister of Housing and Territorial Development, the government will be able to define and improve many land use regulations for beaches, real estate systems, industrial areas, and to create areas geared toward the growth of the population, among others.

Related Articles:

• Investment in Construction Stays At High Level
  
  
• Construction in Panama Increasing, Year on Year
  
  
• Panama: The Next Investment Grade

   

By Cynthia Sanchez for the Panama America - The decline in the (residential) construction sector this year has been offset by investment in tourism and hotel construction, in both Panama City as well as along the beaches, along with new shopping centers being built, office buildings, and low-cost housing. According to the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC), the value of building permits - those which have already been approved as well as new projects - has been "very stable" throughout 2009 - generating an investment of $1.2 billion dollars and showing no variation when compared to 2008. According to a report issued by Panama's Comptroller General covering the period from January through September of 2009, the value of permits issued to build new buildings and to construct repairs and additions registered an increase of 7.0%, with much of the increases being felt in the district of Colon (38.1%) and Panama (15%). Permits for non residential buildings rose by 95.2%. Meanwhile, decreases were registered in San Miguelito (-59.1%) and Arraiján (-49.2%). As a group, construction in David, Chitré, Santiago, Aguadulce and La Chorrera fell 16.1%. Permits for residential construction fell by 17.1%. (more) (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (390 words)

La Critica - The total value of building permits issued through October of 2009 increased by $2 million dollars (0.1%) according to a statistical report issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. According to the report the total value of permits for new construction, additions and repairs in Panama was $1.395 billion dollars through October 2009, an increase of $2 million dollars over the same period last year. The statistical report reflects a significant increase in the value of nonresidential construction (69.4%), while simultaneously reflecting a drop in the value of residential construction (21.3%). (Editor's Comment: Wow. New permits worth another $1.3 billion have been issued this year? In spite of the global economic crisis? Clearly, Panama remains a single bright spot among Latin American economies. This is great news.)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Doug Land from Panama Construction Services forwarded this reference letter to me this morning from a happy customer -

"Dear Doug/Panama Construction Services. I am writing to let you know how very happy Michael and I are with the work you did for us on our kitchen. It turned out exactly as we had hoped and we are more than pleased with the result. Working with you and your team was completely professional, honest and enjoyable. You were always accessible and friendly. Your suggestions were very helpful and show in the finished product. We would most highly recommend your company to anyone planning renovations or remodeling. Please feel free to use us as a reference for any upcoming plans. We wish you very good luck in Panama. You are a welcome addition to the city. Fondly, Carol Sims."

Contact Info: You can reach Doug at cell phone numbers 6663-5108 or 6810-9915, via email to douglasjland@earthlink.net, or visit his website at panamaconstructionservices.com.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Panama Construction Services is a general contractor dedicated to complete renovations and new construction. Panama Construction Services, Inc. is committed to building long term relationships with satisfied customers by providing reliable service and quality solutions, focusing on the details and expectations of our customers' construction needs. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you on your next residencial or comercial construction project! PCS. will tailor it's services to your individual needs which may include design support, preliminary budgeting, planning, scope management, project scheduling, project administration, and supervision. Residential or Commercial. No matter which route you choose, PCS. always ensures quality and 100% total customer satisfaction! We look forward to the opportunity to work with you on your next construction project!

Panama Construction Services and DJ Land S.A. is an independently owned Panamanian corporation that operates as a full service building and remodeling contractor. The company's focus is to provide a unique combination of knowledge, leadership, and proven skills in the construction and remodeling business. We are fully licensed and insured, with more than 25 years of experience. Doug Land prides himself on the quality of his work at a fair price. According to Doug;

• "I feel that developing quality relationships with our customers are essential. If you or someone you know is looking for an honest and reliable contractor then give us a call. I pride myself on doing what I say I'm going to do."

   Click Here To Read The Full Article (557 words)

By Enrique L. Brathwaite for Mi Diario - It was observed that too much land was removed from the base of the Plaza Lourdes building. The construction work adjacent to the Plaza Lourdes building, located on Calle 71 BIS in the Carrasquilla neighborhood of San Francisco, came close to causing an accident. Yesterday afternoon rains accelerated the landslide near a wall being built in what will eventually be the basement of the Sunflower Tower. Apparently, the bad underpinnings of this structure caused the wall of the terrace of one of the apartments on the ground floor of the Plaza Lourdes building, home to some 60 families, to collapse. As expected, the situation caused panic for all of the residents of the building, who were evacuated as night fell to allow for a whole series of studies to be conducted to assess the condition of the structure and to determine if it is safe to be inhabited. A Warning Had Been Given - The owner of the apartment hit by the collapse said she warned the people in charge of the Sunflower Tower project that they were removing too much land from the base of the building and that would cause what happened yesterday. Authorities from the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) validated the need to evacuate the families as they develop the necessary investigations.

   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Joe Fallas from Luzdecor has another happy customer to his credit. I received the following in email this afternoon:

• "Don I am writing you this e-mail to Thank you for the introduction to Joe Fallas from Luzdecor many months ago. You introduced us at one of my poker events and since we have become good buddies. Anyway I recently moved into a new apartment. And we totally redecorated before we moved in. So it was time for the lights. I didn’t hesitate I went right to Joe. And boy was I happy I did so. See me like most men are happy with just a light bulb. But we all have to cater to our wives. I went to Joes store on Street 50. And he handled everything from there. He took the time to show my wife everything. Explain all the lighting techniques. Even showed us how to save money on the electric bill. Was a all around great guy and the service not just from him but from his staff was great. He even came to my home after my second visit to give us the advice we needed to finish the job. Even called his store to make sure he had what we needed in stock and met me there 30 minutes later and I came home and the electrician installed it that day. So once again Don you have introduced me to many but Thanks again because Joe is a top notch guy and provides top service. Thanks again, Scotty King."

And, There You Have It: If you need lights, lamps, fixtures, bulbs, or a chandelier to swing from in a g-string, Joe's your guy. Wait a minute, I just got a mental image of Scotty swinging from a chandelier in a g-string...not good. Not good at all...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By Mabel Cruz R. for the Panama America - Many have opted to seek financing through the Panama Stock Exchange. The construction sector grew 34% in the first half of 2009, compared with same period of last year, according to reports from the Nation's Comptroller. However Superintendent of Banks said fewer disbursements to projects already underway and caution in approving new projects might have a negative impact on 2010. On this issue economist Raul Moreira, President of the College of Economists, said that in order to execute new projects the construction sector is obtaining funding through the Panama Stock Exchange as an alternative method to obtain capital for their work. He explained that if financing is restricted then unemployment will rise, thus causing the same collateral side effect to the banks who rely heavily on consumers who are looking to buy new houses and apartments. Despite this background, Juan Manuel Vasquez, the Director of the Office of Building Construction of the Municipality of Panama, said that through 31 July 2009 their office has granted 971 building permits representing a total investment of approximately $3 billion dollars. These permits, Vasquez said, have been granted for the construction of new buildings, hotels, housing developments as well as modifications to existing structures. Some sectors experiencing a growth in construction are San Francisco, Bella Vista, Juan Diaz and La Cumbres. Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reflects an increase of $287 million in construction spending during the first half of 2009 (a total of $1.112 billion) compared to $835 million in the same period of last year. Juan Manuel Vasquez added that private enterprise has the greatest impact on this sector.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (491 words)

La Prensa - As of today cars will be able to use two lanes of Ave. Balboa that have been closed since 12 May 2009 when part of the sidewalk and road collapsed due to the failure of a underground retaining wall that was part of the construction of the Star Bay Tower, owned by F&F properties. The engineer in charge of the construction project, Jose Gomez, said the street was repaired and totally stabilized, but since they have not yet finished repairing the sidewalk they have designated two lanes for vehicular traffic and the third lane for pedestrians. "We cannot guarantee that there will be not be any incidents in the area of the street where we worked, but we can certify that we complied with repair design as approved by the authorities," he said. We tried to contact the person who is in charge of overseeing these repairs on the part of the Ministry of Public Works, Jorge Pitalúa, but it was impossible to speak with him.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (159 words)

By ANA TERESA BENJAMÍN for La Prensa - About 17,000 construction permits have been granted by the Director of Municipal Engineering in the District of Panama during the term of their director, Jaime Salas. He said that, during the past four years and eight months, his office has issued 9,000 permits for large projects and another 8,000 for smaller projects. In addition, they have approved an additional 4,500 drafts for future projects. Salas added that during 2008 construction permits issued represent a total value of $1.4 billion dollars of investment spending in the country.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (90 words)

La Prensa - The company F&F Properties, the promoter of the Star Bay Tower project, began to work on the area where a retaining wall failed, causing the collapse of part of the sidewalk running along Ave. Balboa in front of the project. The representative of the company, Saúl Faska, said this work might take as much as 20 days, after which they will proceed to fill the hole discovered under the street that passes in front of the project. Faska said the collapse happened when a 16" water main failed. The Director of IDAAN, Juan Antonio Ducruet, has said he does not yet know what happened and that the work being done by the company are illegal, because they might prevent them from determining who is responsible for the damages.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (126 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Jeff Beer, a regular reader of Panama-Guide, happens to have his offices next to the construction site of the Star Bay Tower on Ave. Balboa where the retaining wall failed yesterday morning, causing a partial collapse of the sidewalk and roadway. He send in a series of photos taken from his office window, which I've placed in a slide show for your ease of viewing. Notice how this wall failed just a few days after the start of rainy season in Panama. In order to be able to build these very tall structures along Ave. Balboa, engineers have to first dig down to the bedrock and build a "box" of retaining walls all the way around the area that will serve as the foundations for the building. They have to do this in order to be able to keep the groundwater out while they are excavating and pouring the foundations. Then, they did down to the bedrock, in this case some 30 to 40 meters down, and pour the heavy foundations. From there, they start coming back up out of the hole with the structure. Apparently the rainwater and groundwater on the other side of the retaining wall accumulated and caused the retaining wall to fail. Anyway, thanks for the photos, Jeff...

Copyright 2009 - Text by Don Winner and Photos by Jeff Beer for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

La Prensa - Chaos on Balboa Avenue caused by sidewalk collapse. The failure of a retaining wall at the construction site of the hotel, residential, and office building Star Bay Tower, being constructed at the intersection of Ave. Balboa and Calle Aquilino De la Guardia, caused chaos yesterday in Marbella, Paitilla, and Bella Vista, including a tremendous traffic jam and the interruption of drinking water and electrical services to some sectors. The collapse, the cause of which has not yet been determined, will be the focus of an investigation. The Ministry of Public Works said the area of the collapse, which also included part of the pedestrian walkway in front of the building, will remain off limits until they can determine if the adjacent roadway is safe for traffic circulation. They explained that the ground in this area is sandy and because water has been falling directly on the ground due to the construction, without being filtered, acquires an (accumulated) weight that can put pressure on the retaining wall. Nevertheless, the wall - that was constructed years ago as part of the Ice Tower project - should have been built to be able to support this pressure.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (177 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Early this morning a large section of Avenida Balboa near Avenida Aquilino De La Guardia collapsed in front of the site where the Star Bay Tower is being constructed. Apparently construction workers broke a 16" water main that runs along Ave. Balboa in front of the site, and the gushing water quickly eroded out the underlying sandy dirt, causing a large section of roadway to collapse. As a result of the collapse, thousands of people in Panama City are now without water and electricity. The collapse affected six main circuits of the Unión Fenosa Edemet Edechi power company, who said they were working to get all customers back on line as soon as possible. And of course traffic in the area is completely screwed up, so avoid Ave. Balboa if at all possible.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received via email: "Hi Don, I just received some fantastic exclusive high quality Italian Table Lamps, Hanging Fixtures, and Wall fixtures. These are no massed produced Chinese replicas. Only the best Italian materials are used including real authentic Murano Glass. See you Sunday at the Veneto. Best Regards, Joseph Fallas, President Luzdecor, S.A./Falco, S.A., Tel:+507-270-7412, Fax:+507-270-7414, USA Fax: +1-772-325-6405."    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

NEW YORK, NY - Technology holding company WanderPort Corp. announced that their new portfolio acquisition LDI Technology, a privately owned entity is fast becoming WanderPort's main focus due to strong growth potential. LDI Technology is the product of 20 years of research and development, experimentation and sales of various lighting technologies. The company's focus is to push the limits of LED lighting technology by increasing its performance and versatility to offer cost and energy efficient solutions to their clients. LDI management is currently meeting with officials in Panama City, Panama seeking to reach an agreement for lighting the city's highway system and Panama Canal. The city of Panama is showing strong interest in LDI's revolutionary LED lighting technology and sees many benefits in its long-term savings in energy consumption and maintenance. An update on the outcome of this meeting will be made available by the end of this week. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (200 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Despite recent fatal accidents resulting in the deaths of construction workers in Panama City, the Ministry of Labor announced today their inspectors have conducted a total of 59,728 inspections on job sites during the current administration, between September 2004 and December 2008. These inspections have been conducted with regards to the issues of safety and security at job sites, issues regarding immigration and illegal workers, child labor, pregnant woman and occupational security. Labor Minister Edwin Salamín Jaén, said that during the same period they have increased the number of inspectors from 40 in 2004 to 150 in 2008, and that these professionals are in a constant process of training, qualification and specialization. In addition the inspectors now have improved working conditions as well as better infrastructure, enhanced access to technology and logistical support to do their work.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

By William Sala for La Prensa - Three workers were slightly injured and six vehicles were damaged yesterday when the wet concrete of the 8th floor of a new building under construction in San Francisco called "The Metropolitan" collapsed as it was being poured. Police reports indicate the accident occurred shortly before noon. According to Pedro Cortés, a carpenter who is working on the building, when the concrete pour of the 8th floor collapsed, about 9,000 pounds of wet cement fell down to the next level where several people were working and three of them were injured. In addition, part of the 7th floor cracked under the additional weight and the material fell down into the street, damaging the cars that were parked in front of the building. The accident happened because a beam supporting the floor failed, according to Gregorio Guerrel of the Suntracs labor union. The company responsible for the construction of the project was unavailable for comment.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (345 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hello Don. Please post this on your site if allowed. I am a recent customer of Erik Hansen and his new screening that you wrote about. I had my entire home done by Eric. I had a full enclosure of a room with very detailed architecture. Eric and his team were a delight to work with. I am extremely pleased with the job. It looks beautiful. I highly recommend him! Thanks, Lucy Marshall 6516-1666" My pleasure. Nice to hear from a happy and satisfied customer.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Built with the understanding that "The Customer is King" and that nothing is impossible, Hansen offers their clients more than just a barrier against insects and debris, but provides a space adding to the grace and elegance of the home to which it is attached. Our screens do, in fact, provide excellent protection from biting insects which can be a distraction and nuisance, taking away from what would otherwise be a perfect evening. Our screens also provide protection from harmful Ultra Violet (UV) rays, screening out 30% to 50%. Our screened in enclosures also extend the available living space of your home and allow you to share the outdoors. We utilize the most advanced construction techniques in the in the industry, and our Powder Coated Structural Aluminum components provide years of maintenance free use. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (582 words)

By Luis Carlos Rodríguez for La Critica - A new fatal accident brings mourning to the construction industry. Jorge Pino Flores, 19 years old, was the victim who died. It was learned that the young man had been working for three months as a heavy equipment mechanic for the company Constructora Vial, a subsidiary of PYCSA-Panamá that is building the second phase of the Northern Corridor. The tragedy occurred at 10:00 am yesterday morning on Friday, 7 November 2008, near the Ojo de Agua interchange in the district of San Miguelito. A hydraulic shovel fell on him while he was working on it. According to his workmates Jorge was a happy person and a hard worker who in the short time he had been working gained the esteem of many. Genaro López, Secretary General of the SUNTRACS, criticized the supposed lack of safety and security on the job site and urged the Ministry of Labor to appoint more inspectors to guarantee workplace security. A spokesman of the company PYCSA, Santiago Quirós, lamented the death of the boy and denied there is a lack of safety on the site.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (227 words)

By GILBERTO PÉREZ for La Estrella - From January to August 2008 investment in construction rose 52%, from $726.2 million to $1.143 billion dollars compared to the same time period of the previous year, according to the primary monthly economic indicators of the General Comptroller of the Republic. Numbers reported by the Direction of Statistics and Census reveal that in the district of Arraiján growth was 133.2%, increasing from $21.3 million to $49.7 million dollars. In Colón growth was 84.2%, increasing from $19.2 million to $35.4 million dollars. And in Panama the increase was 54.3%. In addition in the areas of David, Bugaba, Chitré, Aguadulce and La Chorrera increases were 19.9%.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (203 words)

By Ohigginis Arcia for the Panama America - The promoters of some 23 construction projects in Panama City that do not have preconstruction approvals from the office of the Municipal Engineer have been cited for violating development laws for "publicidad engañosa" (deceptive advertising) and for defrauding buyers. Jaime Salas, the Municipal Engineer, said his office will apply fines of up to $100,000 per project for violating the norms as established in Law 6 of 1 February 2006, modified by Law 45 of 31 October 2007. Salas explained that the promoters of these projects located in several areas of Panama City have placed advertising on billboards, magazines, newspapers, on the Internet, and in other mass media, offering views of projects that have not even been approved by the Municipal Engineering office. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (700 words)

By Deivis Eliecer Cerrud for the Panama America - Masses of concrete continue rising in Panama City. As of 28 December 2007 there have been 1,901 construction permits granted in the city. As of October 2007 there were 1,234 permits granted (indicating a sharp rise in the last three months of the year.) City planners criticized the explosion of construction and growth, saying that the government officials are not thinking about the effect on the environment, since drainage systems to handle sewer and runoff waters are over tasked. In Bella Vista, San Francisco, and Ancon buildings higher that 22 floors are going up. Most of the apartments are sold before construction starts.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (285 words)

By Santiago Cumbrera for the Panama America - Fines impsoed by the Municipal Office of Construction on different construction sites for failing to meet safety and security norms are going to fill more of the government coffers. The numbers are a faithful reflection of this situation. In the first semester of this year the organization has collected more than $500,000 in fines. During the first six months of last year they collected only $161,000 in comparison. The frequency and amounts of fines have increased substancially in response to complaints of construction workers according to statistics of the Municipality of Panama. In the month of June 2007 alone more than $159,000 was collected in fines, about the same amount that was collected in the first trimester of last year. The fines were imposed because some construction sites did not have safety nets in place to prevent falls. So far this year the office has conducted 9,800 inspections at construction sites around Panama City, resulting in 364 fines being imposed in the first trimester of 2007. In the first six months of the year the organization issued 953 construction permits, 1,088 permissions, and 2,016 occupation permits.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (227 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Last Thursday four construction workers died on the job at the construction site of the tower San Francisco 7400. They were working in an excavation pit to install a foundation that was more than three meters deep when the walls caved in, burying them. Two were uncovered and taken to the hospital where they later died, and two others died on the scene. The following day on Friday morning the construction workers who were mourning the loss of their co-workers physically threw labor representatives from the SUNTRACS construction workers union off of the job site, saying "the only thing those guys care about is collecting their labor union dues." So, it appears that the Tower 7400 job site was not a SUNTRACS organized site, but no matter. SUNTRACS has said they are going to hold nation wide strikes anyway to protest the deaths of the workers. Be prepared for more traffic jams this week.

Copyright 2007 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. As usual, go ahead and use whatever you want as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Elizabeth Alveo Miranda for El Siglo - The deaths of four construction workers last Thursday has caused authorities involved in issues of workplace security to accelerate their discussions of a new regulation that would impose new safety and security measures for the construction sector, said Labor Minister Reynaldo Rivera, who reminded that the report on this tragic accident will be released next week. During a meeting yesterday between representatives from the Fire Department, the Municipality of Panama City, the Office of Social Security and the Ministry of Labor, Rivera said they are working to put into effect a regulation that has been in discussion since the year 2000, but the parties involved have never come to an agreement. This regulation includes subjects related to the safety and health of construction workers, but to accelerate the work they have created three sub-commissions to analyze the technical aspects, explained the minister, who said that by mid-August it could be in the hands of President Torrijos to determine if he will put in into effect as an Executive Decree or if he will send it to the the National Assembly to be discussed as a proposal for a new law.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (189 words)

Luzdecor, one of the largest lighting companies in Panama, is having a large clearance sale starting today. They are expecting a large shipment of new lighting fixtures and need to make some room in the warehouses. Any reasonable offer will be accepted on those fixtures selected for liquidation. Most of the selected items are Modern Genuine Italian pieces. The articles in the photos below are just some of the items that are part of the "Reasonable Offer” selection. There are many more items that have been selected. In addition, I have included a “Scratch and Incomplete” selection of fixtures that have prices that are ridiculous. Some major Italian items are only $30.00 and the glass alone is worth more. With a little care and cleaning the fixture can be made to look like new again. The sale starts today. Be sure to mention that you read about the sale on Panama Guide. Luzdecor is a long-time sponsor of Panama Guide, whose recent major projects include supplying all of the lighting for the recent expansion of Albrook Mall.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

La Prensa - A mechanical breakdown on 12 February in the Cemento Panamá production facility caused supply disruptions in the market, according to a press release from the company. "Once repairs were completed and quality control was established, production resumed on 14 February and we began to work at full capacity to replace the shortfall in production." According to the company, the normal production capacity of the plant is sufficient to meet the normal demand for cement. Housing Minister Balbina Herrera said she would request the cement producers to explain the reasons behind the shortages and the rise in prices.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (121 words)

By Edilsa González Roca for La Prensa - Panama's Housing Minister Balbina Herrera said yesterday the increasing cost of cement and possible material shortages will have a negative impact on some of the low cost housing developments being built by the government. She said that currently there is an increase in costs of 12% to 13% across the board on all projects and pointed out the "Network of Opportunities" project as an example. She said she would be visiting the companies that product cement in Panama to ask them to explain the causes of the shortages and the increases in price for the product.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (104 words)

TVN had a clip last night about a shortage of bags of cement in hardware stores and building material suppliers in and around Panama City. Masons usually like to buy bags of cement "fresh" to reduce chances of the material being damaged by rain or humidity on a job site. The current shortage is forcing some of them to stop work on projects. There are two factories that produce cement in Panama, Cemex which is Mexican owned and Cemento Bayano. TVN contacted the cement companies which said that stocks would return to normal levels after carnival. Recently the government approved price increases but they have not yet been implemented. Because of the shortage some vendors are asking as much as $8.00 per bag. There is a suspicion that the companies are holding back stocks in order to be able to cash in on the higher price. The Consumer Protection Authority announced the launch of an investigation to look into the matter.   

(Source) Mexican cement giant Cemex announced that it will begin the construction of a new kiln at its Bayano Plant in Panama. The construction is expected to be completed in 2009. The value of the investment is approximately US$200 million. Current production at the Bayano Plant is approximately 450,000 tons of clinker per year. Following the completion of the project, production will increase by approximately 1.15 million tons of clinker to 1.6 million tons of clinker per year.    

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Alberto Darío Gueva Marciaga became the first construction worker to die on the job in 2007. The 25 year-old fell from 25 feet while working as an assistant welder in a project in France Field near the Cuatro Altos overpass. Darío was diagnosed as being brain-dead and he passed away later in the evening of the day of the accident.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (79 words)

By Mario A. Muñoz for La Prensa - The team of architects and engineers that designed and elaborated the plans to build the Palacio de la Bahia project, a building designed to be 350 meters tall and that would cost more than $160 million dollars to build, said yesterday in a press conference that for financial and economic reasons, the Spanish businessman Adolph Olloqui forced the construction to be suspended. "It is not a coincidence that this month the President of the Spanish bank CaixaGalicia will be arriving in Panama," said Juan Carlos Tapia, who was acting as a spokesman for the Jesus Diaz organization. He went on to say that "there is not a single local bank supporting this project." The architectural firm of Jesus Diaz is demanding payment of $500,000 in professional fees. In addition, the architect Jesus Diaz and structural engineer Oscar Ramirez pointed out that the Office of the Municipal Engineer had fined Olloqui with $42,000 thousand dollars after having determined that they had constructed a perimeter wall using plans that were not approved, and which had not been drawn by the Jesus Diaz Architects S.A. company. "The wall they built was thinner than what we had specified, 50 centimeters as opposed to 60 centimeters. In addition they used a mix of water and cement that is not apt to support the weight of this building, and they used another construction system," said Ramirez. The team denied the position of Olloqui, who last week told La Prensa that the construction of the project was "nonviable, irrealizable and impossible" as it had been designed. Olloqui said they will advance with another design by architect Miguel Lopez Piñeiro.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (251 words)

By Rafael E. Berrocal R. for La Prensa - Construction companies that have won contracts to work on government projects are reaching the limits of their operational capacity due to the high demand in both the public and private construction sectors. The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) is starting to feel the effects of the problem. In four different projects the MOP had to exercise their legal rights ensure the projects are completed. As a result, none of these companies will be able to return to bid with the MOP, further reducing the supply of potential builders. In other cases the MOP found that contractors move their equipment from one project to another, causing delays. "There is already a problem which can not be ignored," said MOP Minister Benjamín Colamarco. In order to reduce the frequency of breached contracts and late deliveries the MOP is considering allowing foreign companies to bid on infrastructure projects. The president of the Panamanian Construction Board Javier Cardoze, said that the Panamanian national industry still has the capacity to meet the demand, and he rejected the idea of opening up participation to foreign companies.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (229 words)

Would you be shocked to learn that Panamanian high rise construction workers are doing a lot of the work without safety gear? Every now and then someone gets killed after falling from several stories up. The union workers will inevitably complain that the company does not provide the right equipment. The company will respond that "of course they do." Inspectors from the municipality will come down and do an inspection and determine that everything is in order. What really happens is that the workers have the gear available and they choose not to use it. Work supervisors and foremen that are up in the buildings do not force the workers to use the available gear because following procedure "slows them down." I went on top of a building recently to get some area shots and happened to take a few pictures of a building under construction. The guys who were building frames for the columns of the corners of the building caught my eye, and that's when I noticed that they were not using safety harnesses. And, I know for a fact that this is a SUNTRACS site, and that these guys are working under the CAPAC agreement, that they have the equipment on the site (I've seen it) and they are simply not using it by choice. (See photos below.)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (66 words)

(Source: Panama America) The chief of SINAPROC Roberto Velasquez Abood and the municipal engineer of Panama Jaime Salas said in a press conference that that the inhabitants of Boca la Caja are exposing themselves to great danger by constructing houses over the water. This month there are very high tides reaching as much as 18'. "There are several people who insist on living there inspite of the risk." Velasques said that "when these people get flooded out, they will be the first ones looking to the government to resolve their problems, even after they have ignored warnings for years." Salas said that municipal employees carry out inspections in the area to detect and stop building projects that are too close to the water which fail to fulfill the municipal codes regulating this type of activity. The people who are living in these houses will never be able to obtain title on the land they occupy, which is exactly what they have been told by the Ministry of Housing. Salas called upon the residents of Boca la Caja to be aware of the high degree of risk to which they are exposed, and asked them to collaborate with authorities to jointly reach an agreement to have a safe place where to live.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (465 words)

(Source: La Prensa) The face of the Balboa Avenue is changing quickly. Land values are rising with the blink of an eye. Legendary locations such as La Cascada, the Casa del Marisco, and the Boulevard Balboa have yielded their enviable locations to modern and imposing structures and very deep pockets. And offers continue to rain down on the six-kilometer long stretch road that has public parks, green areas, and the promise of a cleaner Bay of Panama. "Foreigners want to invest on the front line, and Balboa Avenue is number one in Panama right now", said Ricardo Tribaldos, of Tribaldos Real Estate Corp. "All of the projects are being sold". The fight for position is evident and is reflected in the prices being paid for land. Venezuelan petrodollars, capital flight from Colombia and other countries is once again finding Panama as a safe port and driving up land values. Two years ago a square square meter in the zone was being sold for $800 to $900 dollars. Today that same land has tripled in value and now the asking price is between $2,500 to $3,000 per meter, accoding to Tribaldos. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (705 words)

(Source: Panama America) The projects that will be constructed in Panama in the next few years will stimulate foreign migration according to the consultant company Indesa. Their study indicated that mega-projects such as the plan to expand the Panama Canal, to build the mega-port or to expand activities at Howard will not cause downward pressure on wages. Rather, those projects will have a tendency to create pressure to raise wages for workers who are involved in those projects. The mega-projects will also have an effect on the informal economy, indirect sectors, and services. The study clarifies that foreign immigrants will be more likely to work in jobs that are created as indirect offshoots from the projects rather than jobs created directly from the investments.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (354 words)

Question: I purchased a house in Panama last year and want to do some outside patio work. Am having difficulty finding the names of stores that sell patio tile to check out on the web. Can you help? Bob

Answer: Sure. Check out the Casa de Materiales, Comasa, Chochez, Elmec, Hopsa, and of course Luzdecor if you need lamps or lighting. Hope this helps.   

(Source: Capital Financiero) By Sherly Díaz: The cement market in Panama for 2005 was more than 1 million metric tons and is projected to show an increase of at least 20% by the end of 2006. This fast growth of demand has prompted cement companies to make new investments to increase their production capacity to meet the demand. Statistics from the Panamanian Chamber of Construction (CAPAC) show that 290,359 metric tons of cement was produced during the first three months of 2006 and in this same period of time another 282,683 cubic meters of premixed concrete was also produced. Increases in real estate development, construction of new skyscrapers, the possible expansion of the Panama Canal, and the Nevertheless, the increasing real estate development by means of the construction of skyscraper, the possible extension of the Panama Canal and government's intention to build new port and harbor facilities shows that construction and growth will continue and with it there will be an increase in the demand for cement and premixed concrete. Cemex and Cemento Panama are making new investments to be better prepared to face the future demand. The Mexican company Cemex has invested almost $180 million in 12 years of operation in Panama.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (605 words)

Every now and then I run into someone who does a great job for a good price, is responsive and responsible. I just had Eduardo Cobas (6607-4843) do some plumbing work for me. He did an excellent job, on time and on target. He's working with Jorge (J.B.) Bloise (6618-4435) who is out of the country right now, working on a gig in the Bahamas or something. Anyway, these guys turned out to be the right fix, and are recommended for and little residential plumbing job you might need done. I had them extened a gas line, install a new on-demand hot water heater, fix some leaks, stuff like that. Cheap. Tell them "Mr. Don" sent you.   

Panamanian President Martín Torrijos installed a new commission yesterday, tasked to verify the procedures for the approval of plans and permits for construction. The commission, formed by members of the Government and the construction sector, is tasked to promote construction in Panama, and to clarify Panama's national interests to Panamanian and International investors who are interested in investing in Panama. The Panamanian Institute of Architecture and Urbanism estimates that in the next five years more than $10 billion dollars will be invested in construction.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (83 words)