Prioritize an efficient growth for cities of Panama, San Miguelito, Arraijan and La Chorrera

Panama

Panama was selected by the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) to join the Emerging and Sustainable Cities project, entering the list of the 40 Latin American cities under this initiative. The image projected by Panama City relates to its unique geographical position and an imposing “skyline” result of the high densification and effects of the housing market, but which lacks planned growth.

Promoting sustainable, human and balanced urban development

Currently the city has a continuous urban footprint of over 80 kilometers long and an average width of 9 kilometers; Despite representing only a 4% of the country’s extension, its metropolitan area is home to 46% of its population. Future development will be determined by the Canal and its environmental proteced areas many of them in the reverted areas in the Canal Zone.

The IDB has relied on IDOM to lead the studies for the Pacific Metropolitan Area covering the municipalities of Panama, San Miguelito, Arraijan and Chorrera. With the aim of promoting sustainable, human and balanced urban development, IDOM has studied the case of Panama with a multidisciplinary approach, analyzing the historical growth of the urban footprint, its impact at sectoral and territorial level, and the forecast for future growth under a strategical planning orientation at a territorial, metropolitan and local scale.

In a scenario of disorderly occupation of land, construction in areas vulnerable to natural hazards, difficulties in urban mobility and social disparity, a model of urban development that prioritizes the quality of life of its inhabitants is defined through an integrated territorial planning which optimizes land use and activity management, infrastructure, urban facilities and services. It is committed to the promotion of eco-sustainable mobility, access to housing and local employment generation.

The development process has benefited from the contribution of the different metropolitan, municipal, private sector players and civil society, in order to achieve a positive and shared transformation.

Resilience & Sustainability