Construction is semi-paralyzed while Social Security Department tries to amend the initial contract of $587 million due to cost overruns, delays and technical problems.

At present, the project is 30% complete, and it has been estimated that the work will have a cost overrun of $300 million since the initial contract with the Spanish FCC only covered 25% of the required equipment. According to the new officials at the Social Security Department, the work also has technical and structural problems related to drains and some walls.

Among the changes that need to be made to revive the construction work that FCC has half completed, are modification of the contract, particularly the delivery time, the technical characteristics of the work and of course, the new cost of the project.

This process could take up to three weeks, Laestrella.com.pa reports that “… Proposals must first be analyzed by the Committee of Management and Labor Affairs Board (five members), who will study them and based on that will make a recommendation to the highest authority of the Department. Once that happens, the new contract conditions will be passed to the Comptroller for their respective endorsement or rejection. ” President of the Board, Ramiro De Leon, “… believes that the work will not be delivered at the end of this year and, with difficulty, in the course of 2016. “