The deputy director of Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), Luis Santanach, presented his resignation in the midst of the national crisis over the supply of drinking water and after the recent arrival of the entity’s new director, Antonio Tercero González.
Santanach was appointed as deputy director of Idaan on September 2 by the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino under Executive Decree 84 of 2024, his position was for a period of five years. According to Law 77 of December 28, 2001the deputy director operates under the assignments of the executive director.
Santanach’s departure was announced on May 1 and comes weeks after he temporarily assumed the direction of Idaan, following the resignation of Rutilio Villarreal on March 4. Villarreal left office amid questions about the prolonged water crisis in different regions of the country, especially in Azuero.
This Wednesday, April 29, Tercero González began his management as executive director of Idaan, after being ratified this week by the National Assembly to direct the institution. Prior to his appointment, he served as executive secretary of the National Council for Sustainable Development (Conades).
Among Tercero González’s first tasks was to hold a meeting with all operations managers, as well as technical and administrative personnel, to establish critical points and activate actions immediately.
So far, no official statement has been issued regarding Santanach’s resignation; However, this occurs at a time when communities in the capital, Panama Oeste, Colón, Veraguas and Azuero continue to denounce prolonged outages, low pressure and lack of definitive responses from the authorities.
