Arraijan Advances Land-Use Plan to Protect Public Access Along Its Coasts
ARRAIJAN, August 14, 2026 – Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Land Management, Miviot, and the Arraijan mayor office met to advance the district Local Land Management Plan and the formation of the Municipal Planning Board, the body responsible for approving local development, Metro Libre reported.
The meeting brought together Vice Minister of Land Management Frank Osorio and Mayor Stefany Penalba, along with teams from the directorates of works and construction, urban planning, cadastre and the geographic integration system.
Osorio explained the benefits of having the planning instrument and the role of the planning boards, as part of technical tours Miviot has been carrying out since May in provinces including Veraguas, Chiriqui and Cocle. The parties also agreed to establish a roadmap with technical support from the ministry.
Gianina Rodriguez, Miviot director of land management, said work would continue with the municipal team to achieve orderly and sustainable development, adding that a district with a land management plan has clear rules for growth, greater certainty for residents and better conditions for managing public services.
Mayor Penalba said Arraijan aims to advance its “La Nueva Ciudad” plan with management closer to the territories, and expressed interest in reviewing instruments approved in other municipalities, analysing them in phases and exchanging data, particularly on public spaces and high-tide lines.
She said residents should know that there are 22 metres of high-tide line along all the coasts of the Veracruz, Cerro Silvestre, Vacamonte and Vista Alegre corregimientos, which she described as a fundamental pillar for public recreation and use.
Also attending were Karlana Villarreal, Miviot director of development control and guidance, and, for the mayor office, urban planning director Luis Dominguez, municipal engineer Melvin Rodriguez and cadastre director Angel Ortega.
Why it matters
Arraijan is one of the fastest-growing districts near Panama City, and the plan decides what gets built and how much coastline stays publicly accessible.
What happens next
Miviot and the municipality will follow the agreed roadmap toward adopting the plan and seating the planning board.
