PANAMA’S Chamber of Commerce has given a muted approval to the recently announced government measures  to combat  the city’s traffic snarls in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The body labeled the moves which include revised hours for government employees, and “tidal flow” crossings of the Bridge of the Americas as “late”and suggested other moves were needed to produce a greater effect and ease congestion.

In a press release the Chamber said , it is inevitable that in the last weeks of the year, when commercial movement increases, traffic in the avenues will worsen, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of life of citizens.

It noted  that the measures of the Government were "late and will not solve the problem, but will contribute to mitigating congestion.”

The Chamber of Commerce  invited the private sector to collaborate in the mitigation of snarls  by  modifying work schedules, allowing people to work from home

It also the suspension of construction projects on roads and bridge and called for more traffic police to be on duty.

"The medium­ and long­term solution to the transportation problem is to implement a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

and to accelerate the process of improving the transportation system," the statement said.”