In the midst of the pandemic induced collapse of the  Panama economy the country’s fat cat politicians have ensured that their travels will continue first-class with per diem allowances of between $500 and $700 (for each day abroad).

For trips within Panama, they can claim between $100 and $125

The general state budget bill for 2021  also contemplates the payment of $ 500 in allowances to the members of boards of directors and even warns that "they may not be modified in the current fiscal period", despite the fact that the Executive itself presented a bill that contemplates the reduction of salaries to a group of officials and omits the payment of per diems for those who are members of boards of directors reports La Prensa.

The Budget Director, Carlos González , assured that the budget adjustment in 2021 is fundamentally in the areas of goods and services, and in terms of investments, but did not explain why the travel expenses will not be reduced, although Independent deputy Gabriel Silva asked questioned it in the Budget Committee.

"Where are you saving? Where are you saving on issues of bureaucracy, efficiency, on issues of the state payroll? I'm not talking about dismissing officials (...) But we know that the public sector has a disproportionate payroll ... huge, compared to other countries, and on the other hand, we have doctors who are not receiving salaries due to them ”, he said.

If the trip is to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, the ministers, deputies, attorneys, magistrates, prosecutors, the ombudsman, the comptroller, managers, superintendents, administrators, university rectors, members of boards of directors of entities in the sector public; and all their seconds-in-command are entitled to $700 per day for travel expenses.

The rest of the officials, $ 600. If the tour is to the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, the amount for the first is $600; that of the others, $500. When it comes to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and the rest of Latin America, the highest-ranking officials receive $500 a day, and the rest, $ 400.

This does not include transportation costs (air tickets, and others), which in the case of ministers and similar officials, could be higher since they have free access to travel in first-class when the destination country is more than three hours away.

The per diem table for official missions appears every year in the budget law. It has not changed in recent times; and for 2021, a year in which revenues similar to those of 2014 are expected, as a result of the Covid-19, crisis the per diem will remain intact, in accordance with the budget bill that is currently being discussed in the National Assembly. This, despite the fact that the proposal presented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to the Legislature considers the "relative decrease in operating expenses", the "promotion of savings", and the "management of those responsible for the resources of the State", reports La Prensa.

There is currently no rule that regulates the issue of travel and per diem expenses. It is not an obligation to return the money that is not spent to the treasury. A  draft law, presented by  Deputy Silva, would oblige officials to return the unspent amount is resting in the Assembly.

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