Commission established

PANAMA CITY

The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) recently inaugurated an inter-institutional commission on Wednesday charged with safeguarding the trade route's vital supplies of fresh water into the future. The commission, made up of government and environmental groups under PCA stewardship, aims to establish mechanisms to protect the Canal's fragile rainforest watershed, while achieving long-term sustainable development for resident communities, the Authority said.

"Water is a vital resource for people. It is also the motor which moves the waterway and allows it to continue offering a quality service to its users," Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta told the inaugural meeting. "We are sure that the Commission installed today will develop adequate programs to preserve and protect the watershed's resources, through the involvement and participation of both residents and the corresponding authorities," he added.