IFARHU Starts PASE-U Card Delivery in Cocle and Clarifies No Cash Withdrawals
COCLE, July 20, 2026 – IFARHU announced that delivery of Caja de Ahorros Mastercard debit cards for PASE-U payments will begin in Cocle on Tuesday, July 21, while also clarifying that funds loaded to the cards cannot be withdrawn in cash.
The Cocle rollout is expected to serve 34,211 guardians representing 51,036 student beneficiaries, with a total first-payment disbursement of B/.5,647,650. Distribution centers can be checked through IFARHU, with listed service hours from 7:00 a.m. to noon.
The first listed Cocle areas include Ola district corregimientos such as El Cope, El Picacho, La Pava, Ola, El Palmar, Virgen del Carmen and Pocri, and Anton district areas including Rio Hato, El Chiru and Santa Rita. Guardians must present a valid physical cedula; passport users will wait for a later programmed stage.
Separately, IFARHU explained that PASE-U funds on the new card can be used only in affiliated businesses or through the PUNCH by Caja de Ahorros app for approved purchases such as school supplies, uniforms, food, medicines and transportation. The government will cover the card cost during the pilot year, while beneficiaries will pay B/.3.00 annually from the second year.
Why it matters
The change affects how families access one of Panama’s most visible education-linked benefits. The no-cash rule is meant to direct spending toward student needs, but it also requires clear communication so families are not surprised at the point of use.
What happens next
Families should verify their assigned distribution center, documentation and schedule through IFARHU before traveling. More provincial stages are expected as the card rollout continues.
