Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 13024 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM AID ADM AFFAIRS AND APER APEC ALOW ACOA AA ATRN AE ADPM ABLD AINF ASEAN AL AG AO AMED ARF ADANA ADCO AADP AY AORG ABUD AROC AGAO APCS AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BO BTIO BC BP BE BIDEN BILAT BH BX BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CD CV CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CONS CW CM COM COUNTRY CN CY CT CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS CBE CDC COUNTER CR CARSON COPUOS CTR CFED CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CIC CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DOD DA DEFENSE DOMESTIC DO DK DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT EXIM ENIV ECONOMY ERNG ENERG ES EK ELECTIONS EAIDS EFTA EUREM EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ELN ECA EFINECONCS EINVEFIN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FINR FBI FINANCE FTAA FREEDOM FJ FTA FAO FDA FM FARC FAC FOREIGN FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO FAS
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GV GLOBAL GTMO GANGS GH GOV GOI GL GF GCC GAERC GE GZ GAZA GY
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD ISRAELI IRAQI ILC ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ID ICAO ITRA ICRC INMARSAT IO INTERNAL IIP IRS IEFIN ICJ ICTY IWC IQ IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOSEPH JUS JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KMDR KWBG KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KSTC KICC KCRCM KIRC KSAF KR KSEO KU KIRF KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCOM KAID KNUP KOCI KPOA KPRV KMFO KENV KMPI KBCT KHLS KNPP KBTS KIDE KPAONZ KNUC KSCI KHDP KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KJUST KAWK KACT KVIR KO KHSA KNNPMNUC KPWR KCFE KX KMRS KERG KVRP KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LI LG LH LTTE LAB LO LT LA LU LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE ML MR MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MO MTCR MIL MAPP MZ MP MG MAR MD MU MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MAS MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NSF NSSP NA NATIONAL NDP NR NP NIPP NE NGO NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NC NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OIIP OPAD OPCW OEXC ODIP OFDP OIE OFFICIALS OHUM OSCI OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV PGOF PAS PCI PA PALESTINIAN PTE POLITICS PROP PMIL PREO POLITICAL PAIGH PO PROG PJUS PARMS PSI PRAM PTERE PG PDOV PAO POLICY PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RICE RM RO REGION ROOD RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SG SW SR SYRIA SEN SC SCRS SWE SF SNARIZ SARS SL SAARC STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TF TC TN TW TT TL TV TS TK TERRORISM TD TP TO TRSY TURKEY TZ TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US USTR UZ USEU UV UG UP UNAUS UNMIK UNHRC UNEP UY UNHCR UNESCO USUN USPS UNCHR USAID USNC USOAS UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WHO WMD WBG WS WI WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XY XV XB XU XD XC XZ XE XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZJ ZB ZO ZEALAND ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09PANAMA339, PANAMA: TORRIJOS SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE UNDER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09PANAMA339.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09PANAMA339 | 2009-04-27 20:32 | 2011-04-11 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0002
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #0339/01 1172032
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 272032Z APR 09
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
    INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

` `

    ..C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PANAMA 000339

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2019
    TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI PM
    SUBJECT: PANAMA: TORRIJOS SOCIAL PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE UNDER
    NEXT ADMINISTRATION

    Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Barbara J. Stephenson for reaso
    ns 1.4(b) and (d).

    -------
    Summary
    -------

    ¶1. (C) Both leading presidential candidates have acknowledged
    the success of some social programs initiated during
    President Martin Torrijos' term, and have agreed to continue
    certain programs after the next administration is sworn in on
    July 1.  Programs earmarked for continuity by ruling
    Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) candidate Balbina
    Herrera and Alliance for Change candidate Ricardo Martinelli
    include the Network of Opportunities ("Red de
    Oportunidades"), the Community Development Program (PRODEC),
    and the National Institute of Vocational Training for Human
    Development (INADEH).  Although Torrijos's Agro Compita
    subsidized food program and the recently-inaugurated
    Farmacias Compita subsidized medication program are not
    mentioned in either candidate's government plan, both have
    publicly expressed support for them.  Herrera has run on a
    platform stressing continuity, and she and senior
    administration officials constantly trumpet the PRD's
    hallmark social welfare successes under Torrijos's watch.
    Despite his "change" mantra, Martinelli is keen to piggy-back
    on Torrijos's social successes.  End summary.

    ----------------------------------
    Popular social programs to live on
    ----------------------------------

    - The Network of Opportunities (Red de Oportunidades)

    ¶2. (SBU) The Network of Opportunities is a monthly
    conditional monetary transfer program that aims to reduce
    extreme poverty by facilitating access to education and
    healthcare for the poorest Panamanians.  (A December 2008
    report notes that more than 500,000 Panamanians -- out of a
    total population of about 3.3 million -- are "affected by"
    extreme poverty. UN statistics show a 11.7% extreme poverty
    rate.)  Families enrolled in the Network receive a monthly
    stipend upon the conditions that children attend school and
    adults comply with medical appointments.  A December 2008
    report shows that the Network of Opportunities had spent a
    total of $43 million on transfers to a growing number of
    families over two years.  By the end of 2008, 70,599 families
    in 591 of 621 precincts (corregimientos) received transfers,
    which translates to about 400,000 total beneficiaries of the
    program.  Last year the dollar amount of the transfers was
    raised from $35.00 to $50.00 per family per month.  Extreme
    poverty is concentrated in the three indigenous comarcas
    (Ngobe Bugle, Kuna Yala, and Embera Wounaan), where $18
    million of the budget was spent.  The remaining $25 million
    was allotted to the nine provinces that make up the country.
    As Torrijos noted in his March 1 "farewell" address to the
    National Assembly, enrollment into the program continues:
    75,157 families and counting receive the transfer as of March
    ¶2009.  Herrera lists raising the number of Network of
    Opportunity beneficiary families to 85,000 in her government
    plan's list of "100 Promises," and specifies expanding the
    program to reach all of the country's poor indigenous
    populations.  She upped the ante in a recent interview by
    saying that she would extend the program to 150,000 families.
     Martinelli's Government Plan for Change explains that his
    administration would "deepen and improve" the Network of
    Opportunities, independent of the political clientelism that
    he says has marred the program and the Torrijos
    administration.

    - The Community Development Program (PRODEC)

    ¶3. (C) Established in 2006, PRODEC is funded by $50 million
    drawn annually from surplus Canal revenues.  Its more than
    3,000 grassroots infrastructure development projects are
    derived from community input gathered from site visits, or
    "public consultations," sometimes carried out by president
    Torrijos himself.  PRODEC projects are largely aimed at
    improving roads, but also include projects to improve access
    to drinking water, rural electrification, and education
    infrastructure.  Minister of Presidential Goals Luis Blanco,
    the defacto head of PRODEC, met with POLOFF and emphasized
    that although PRODEC has been criticized for moving slowly,
    projects worth about $40 million have been completed.  "The
    problem," Blanco said, "is that the projects need to be
    local, and there's a lack of local capacity to undertake the

    PANAMA 00000339  002 OF 003

    projects -- it is one thing to do a project here in the
    capital, but another in the rural areas.  We want to bring
    infrastructure as well as employment to the lesser-served
    areas, but it is hard sometimes to find local people
    qualified to do the work."  This, according to Blanco,
    explains why PRODEC has completed only 581 of the over 3,000
    approved projects, and has spent only a portion of the $200
    million in its budget.  Despite these difficulties, Blanco
    emphasized that PRODEC is geared toward helping each
    corregimiento in the country equally.  Herrera's government
    plan is mum on PRODEC, but as it is a PRD-originated program
    Herrera would be unlikely to alter it as president.
    Martinelli proposes that "in addition to PRODEC's $50
    million, a fund be created from Canal revenues to improve the
    country's water access, with an emphasis on marginalized
    populations."

    - The National Institute of Vocational Training for Human
    Development (INADEH)

    ¶4. (SBU) INADEH is a government-sponsored job skills training
    program that provides classes to any Panamanian free of
    charge.  In 2008 INADEH invested $92 million on its training
    programs, and in February INADEH held a ceremony to mark the
    500,000th training certificate earned by an INADEH
    participant.  INADEH has facilities throughout the country,
    and courses run the gamut -- from cooking to literacy to
    electronics -- but the Torrijos and the GOP put special
    emphasis on training in heavy-machinery operation to assist
    the Canal expansion effort.  Herrera's governing plan
    includes a nod to "intensify" INADEH training programs to
    help generate employment; Martinelli's government plan
    discusses expanding INADEH to include administration and
    language training to improve human capital in the tourism
    sector, and a "corrections plan" aimed at assisting the
    reinsertion of criminals into society.

    ---------------------
    On board with Compita
    ---------------------

    ¶5. (SBU) Two government-sponsored programs under the
    "Compita" moniker make necessities available to poorer
    Panamanians at low prices.  The GOP's Agricultural Marketing
    Institute purchases in bulk basic food products such as rice,
    lentils, flour, coffee, and oil and re-sells them to
    consumers under the Agro Compita brand at prices as much as
    30% lower than the market price.  The program was launched in
    the fall of 2007 to counter rising food prices and inflation.
     Agro Compita "Econo-packs" containing a variety of food
    staples sell for $9.45, and are available at periodic
    "Producer Fairs" throughout the country.  Organizations can
    also make large requests for packs (e.g. to hand out to
    employees) via telephone.  Three "Farmacias Compita,"
    Ministry of Health-operated pharmacies, opened earlier this
    year to provide reduced-price medications to low-income
    Panamanians.  Two pharmacies are in metro Panama City and
    together serve over 500,000 residents according to media
    reports.  The third pharmacy is located in San Miguelito, a
    largely poor district outside the capital.  Detractors call
    the program an election-year ploy designed to generate
    support for Torrijos's ruling Revolutionary Democratic Party
    (PRD).  Herrera has praised and voiced support for the
    Compita programs; although they are not mentioned in his
    government plan, Martinelli has said publicly that he would
    continue the two Compita programs.

    -------
    Comment
    -------

    ¶6. (C) Legacy-minded Torrijos administration officials tend
    to trot out in speeches and publications the updated numbers
    of families enrolled in the Network of Opportunities, or
    workers trained at INADEH as examples of positive social
    welfare initiatives.  As the election approaches, the GOP has
    continued to trumpet its social development successes in an
    attempt to rally flagging public support for Herrera and the
    PRD.  It is also no secret that Torrijos has his eye on
    running for president when he is next eligible in 2019.  He
    views these social programs as an important part of his
    legacy and the recipients of the programs as core
    PRD-supporters down the road.

    ¶7. (C) But both Martinelli and Herrera are making grand
    social development promises.  Martinelli is signaling that

    PANAMA 00000339  003 OF 003

    his "change" agenda does not necessarily extend to some of
    Torrijos's high-profile social development initiatives; but
    delivering on the "change" mantra while simultaneously
    keeping the current administration's popular programs up and
    running may be a challenge.  If Martinelli wins, he is
    expected to replace the vast majority of the 15,000 PRD
    government workers with loyalists from the five parties that
    make up the Alliance for Change.  But Post has not seen
    signals that the Martinelli camp is making preparations to
    fully assume the responsibility of governing the country and
    administering the social programs.  The extent to which these
    programs have been institutionalized after only a few years
    in operation is unclear, but a disruption in service
    provision due to bureaucratic and leadership changes could be
    a serious gaffe for the new president.
    STEPHENSON

`