Contract Awarded for River Clean-Up in Chiriqui

Contract Awarded for River Clean-Up

story La Prensa English Edition

The government awarded a no-bid contract to the company Ceiba, SA, to clean up the Caldera River in the province of Chiriquí.

There had been plans to competitively bid the work, but that was cancelled when the government decided that the project needed to start immediately to prevent further problems in communities located near the waterway.

Last week, Cabinet Council declared a state of emergency in communities along the river because debris in it could cause flooding.

In directly awarding the contract, the government considered proposals from four companies before awarding the work to Ceiba.

Funding for the clean-up of the river will be provided by the Inter-American Development Bank. The company has 45 days from the signing of the contract to finish the project. The company must clean up all trash, trees and other objects from the river to prevent it from being obstructed during periods of heavy rain.

The mayor of Boquete has the responsibility to monitor the company and ensure it meets all requirements.