La Asamblea Nacional de Panamá volvió a aprobar en tercer debate el Proyecto de Ley 78, una iniciativa que busca incorporar neumáticos fuera de uso y otros materiales reciclados en la mezcla asfáltica para la construcción, rehabilitación y mantenimiento de la red vial del país, luego de que la norma fuera objetada parcialmente por el presidente José Raúl Mulino por razones de inconveniencia institucional.

La propuesta legislativa apunta a introducir una transformación en la infraestructura vial, combinando objetivos de economía circular, sostenibilidad ambiental y mejora de la durabilidad de las carreteras, en un contexto donde múltiples zonas del país, especialmente áreas rurales y apartadas de la capital, presentan deficiencias estructurales en sus vías o ausencia total de pavimentación.

De acuerdo con el texto del proyecto, la ley establece la utilización de productos reciclados de neumáticos fuera de uso (NFU) y material fresado o reciclado de pavimentos (RAP) en las mezclas asfálticas, con el fin de reducir la contaminación ambiental, disminuir costos y mejorar la calidad de la red vial nacional.

La norma integra el concepto de economía circular, permitiendo el aprovechamiento de residuos sólidos que actualmente representan un problema de gestión ambiental en el país.

Entre los aspectos centrales, la ley dispone que el Ministerio de Obras Públicas (MOP) determine las rutas y proyectos donde se aplicará la tecnología, además de fortalecer el departamento de ensayo de materiales, responsable de validar la calidad del producto reciclado y su desempeño técnico en el pavimento. También se establece que los materiales reciclados deben provenir del consumo local, prohibiendo su importación, con el objetivo de impulsar la industria nacional del reciclaje.

El proyecto fija además un porcentaje mínimo de aplicación de materiales reciclados en la red vial, incorporando neumáticos fuera de uso y pavimentos reciclados dentro del plan anual de trabajo del MOP, lo que representa un cambio estructural en la política de construcción de carreteras en Panamá y abre un mercado potencial para empresas dedicadas al reciclaje.

El Proyecto de Ley 78 establece parámetros técnicos mínimos para la incorporación de materiales reciclados en la mezcla asfáltica, fijando como referencia un porcentaje base de al menos 5% de neumáticos reciclados y 5% de material asfáltico recuperado (RAP).

La norma busca introducir gradualmente la mezcla modificada en la red vial nacional, priorizando proyectos de construcción, rehabilitación y mantenimiento, con el objetivo de mejorar la resistencia del pavimento, reducir costos y dar salida al creciente volumen de llantas fuera de uso en el país.

Sin embargo, pese a su aprobación inicial en septiembre, el Órgano Ejecutivo devolvió la norma sin sanción, formulando una objeción parcial basada en la existencia de vicios en la distribución de competencias institucionales. En particular, el Ejecutivo advirtió que el proyecto asignaba funciones al MOP que corresponden a otras entidades, como la Autoridad de Aseo Urbano y Domiciliario y el Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias, especialmente en materia de trazabilidad, certificación y control de residuos sólidos.

Entre las observaciones, se objetó el artículo que extendía la obligatoriedad del uso de materiales reciclados a obras privadas y contratistas independientes, planteando que la política debía circunscribirse inicialmente a proyectos estatales. Asimismo, se cuestionó la facultad del MOP para validar el producto reciclado sin considerar la participación de otras instituciones regulatorias, lo que generaba riesgos de duplicidad de funciones.

Tras el análisis legislativo de las objeciones, el proyecto fue modificado y nuevamente aprobado en segundo y tercer debate, incorporando ajustes para clarificar la distribución de competencias, reforzar la coordinación interinstitucional y garantizar que la implementación de la ley respete el marco regulatorio vigente en materia ambiental, sanitaria e industrial.

La normativa también introduce mecanismos de fiscalización, certificación técnica y reporte anual, obligando tanto al MOP como a las empresas recicladoras a presentar informes sobre el volumen de material reciclado utilizado, su origen y tratamiento previo, con el objetivo de asegurar transparencia y trazabilidad en el proceso.

Además, la ley prevé que los vertederos puedan aceptar neumáticos fuera de uso bajo condiciones reguladas, promoviendo su reutilización y evitando su disposición inadecuada, lo que representa una medida clave para enfrentar el problema de acumulación de llantas en el país y su impacto ambiental.

Con su nueva aprobación legislativa, el proyecto será remitido nuevamente al Ejecutivo para su sanción, lo que abre la fase final del proceso y determinará si Panamá adopta formalmente una política nacional de pavimentación con materiales reciclados, una tendencia que ya ha sido implementada en diversos países y que busca mejorar la resiliencia de las carreteras, reducir emisiones y optimizar recursos.

En el plano práctico, la ley podría tener efectos directos en la mejora de la conectividad rural, la reducción de costos de mantenimiento vial y la creación de nuevas oportunidades en la industria del reciclaje, aunque su éxito dependerá de la reglamentación, la capacidad técnica del Estado y la articulación entre instituciones responsables.

A nivel mundial, el uso de neumáticos reciclados en pavimentación se ha consolidado como una de las principales soluciones para la gestión de este residuo. Cada año se generan cerca de 1,000 millones de neumáticos fuera de uso en el mundo, lo que equivale a unas 17 millones de toneladas de desechos, convirtiéndose en un desafío ambiental significativo.

En este contexto, el asfalto con caucho reciclado representa el mayor mercado de reutilización del material, especialmente en Estados Unidos, donde se consumen alrededor de 12 millones de neumáticos anualmente en la producción de mezclas asfálticas.

Además, el mercado global del asfalto reciclado muestra una tendencia de crecimiento sostenido impulsada por políticas de infraestructura sostenible y economía circular, con una expansión estimada hasta 2030 debido a su capacidad para reducir emisiones, costos y consumo de agregados naturales.

Diversos países ya han implementado esta tecnología en sus redes viales. Estados Unidos fue pionero en su aplicación desde la década de 1960 en Arizona, mientras que naciones europeas utilizan mezclas con polvo de caucho para mejorar la resistencia del pavimento y reducir el ruido del tráfico.

En Asia, América Latina y Europa se ha extendido el uso del asfalto modificado con neumáticos por su mayor durabilidad y desempeño mecánico, lo que permite carreteras más silenciosas y con menor deterioro.

Republican and Independent voters reacted favorably when President Donald Trump brought up how his administration has cracked down on drug cartels and fentanyl, but Democrats appeared less motivated by Trump’s aggressive foreign policy stance. 

«For years, large swaths of territory in our region, including large parts of Mexico, really large parts of Mexico, have been controlled by murderous drug cartels. That’s why I designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and I declared illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction,» Trump said to applause as he turned to look at Republicans. 

Per a panel assembled by polling group Maslansky & Partners of 29 Democrats, 30 Independents, and 40 Republicans, which tracked their real-time reactions during Trump’s SOTU address, Democrats appeared to go slightly below baseline when Trump began touting his aggressive stance towards cartels in Central and South America, specifically his administration’s bombing campaign against them which has included attacks in the open ocean off the South American coastline and in the eastern Pacific.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Independents showed a much stronger favorable reaction to the president’s remarks about the actions his administration has taken against drug cartels and illegal fentanyl. 

During his address, Trump also highlighted the U.S.’s help in capturing drug kingpin «El Mencho» earlier this month in Mexico. Ruben «Nemesio» Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» the leader of the CJNG, was killed Sunday in a Mexican military operation in Tapalpa, Mexico, authorities said. Though the operation was carried out by Mexican forces, the United States laid the groundwork, making El Mencho’s fall possible.

On President Donald Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order directing the State Department to designate several cartels and international criminal groups «foreign terrorist organizations» (FTOs), a designation unlocking military-grade surveillance and «material support» prosecutions. Though lesser known than MS-13 or Tren de Aragua, CJNG was one of the groups designated an FTO by the administration.

Shortly after Trump’s executive order, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a policy memorandum to all Department of Justice employees, announcing a «fundamental change in mindset and approach» to cartels and transnational criminal organizations to a policy of «total elimination.»

TRUMP SHAMES DEMOCRATS IN VIRAL STATE OF THE UNION CHALLENGE ON MIGRANT CRIME: ‘FIRST DUTY’

President Donald Trump has declared an «armed conflict» against cartels carrying drugs into the U.S. and has unleashed a series of strikes on drug boats. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social; Evan Vucci/AP Photo; Aaron Favila / The Associated Press)

The Trump administration has engaged in an aggressive bombing campaign against cartel boats throughout both 2025 and 2026. The U.S. has also conducted non-lethal maritime drug interdiction efforts as well.

In early 2026, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and extradited to New York on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, with Trump accusing him at the time of being a «kingpin of a vast criminal network.»

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is arrested. (Fox Nation)

The recent violence and capture of El Mencho this month has led American tourists to be trapped in Mexico. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the State Department has been taking «hundreds of calls a day» providing Americans with travel support and advice.

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«We are unaware of any reports of any Americans being hurt, kidnapped, or killed, and the Mexican drug cartels know not to lay a finger on a single American or they will pay severe consequences under this president – and they already are,» Leavitt told Fox News. 

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.

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Iran lashed out after President Donald Trump put the regime on notice in his State of the Union address, delivering a forceful warning about Tehran’s ambitions while world leaders largely stayed silent in the immediate aftermath of the speech.

Speaking amid the largest deployment of U.S. aircraft and warships to the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War buildup, Trump said he wanted to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy while accusing Tehran of expanding its missile capabilities.

«They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas,» he said. «And they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.»

«My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,» Trump added. «They want to make a deal. But we haven’t heard those secret words: we will never have a nuclear weapon.»

«But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror… to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.»

Trump argued that previous U.S. action, including the «Operation Midnight Hammer» strike in June, had severely degraded Iran’s capabilities but warned the threat had not disappeared.

«We wiped it out and they want to start all over again and are at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions,» he said.

TRUMP GIVES IRAN 10-DAY ULTIMATUM, BUT EXPERTS SIGNAL TALKS MAY BE BUYING TIME FOR STRIKE

This June 24, 2025, satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows bomb damage at Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Facility. The image reveals craters and destruction at a perimeter installation following U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as part of Operation Midnight Hammer. (Maxar Technologies)

Tehran sharply rejected Trump’s claims about its missile and nuclear programs. According to The Associated Press, Iranian officials characterized U.S. statements as propaganda while stopping short of closing the door on diplomacy ahead of the Geneva talks.

The Times of India reported that Iranian officials warned that any U.S. military strike, even a «limited» one, would be treated as aggression and met with a decisive response.

The exchange underscored the widening gap between public rhetoric and ongoing diplomatic efforts as Washington and Tehran prepared for another round of nuclear talks in Geneva.

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM ‘BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as «El Mencho,» was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. (screen grab obtained from a social media video. @morelifediares via Instagram/Youtube/via Reuters)

Trump also linked his foreign policy agenda to broader regional security efforts, pointing to recent operations in the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. campaign against drug cartels.

«We’re also restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere, acting to secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference,» he said. «Large swaths of territory in our region, including large parts of Mexico… have been controlled by murderous drug cartels. That’s why I designated these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations… We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday,» he said, referring to the operation that killed Mexican drug lord El Mencho.

European coverage portrayed the speech as assertive and confrontational, with analysts watching closely for implications for NATO coordination, Ukraine policy and trade relations. Reporting emphasized Trump’s linkage between diplomacy and military readiness, as well as the administration’s broader posture toward alliances and deterrence.

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT ‘ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE’ IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

NATO leaders pose in this shot taken in June. Military leaders are meeting in Washington on Tuesday evening to discuss securities options for Ukraine. (Claudia Greco/Reuters)

«NATO countries… have just agreed, at my very strong request, to pay 5% of GDP for military defense rather than the 2%,» Trump said during the address, presenting the move as evidence of shifting burden-sharing within the alliance.

Across global media, one theme emerged clearly: the address appeared primarily geared toward domestic political messaging while still carrying international signaling effects.

Trump repeatedly tied American military power to deterrence, telling lawmakers the United States would «never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,» while emphasizing a broader strategy of «peace through strength,» according to Reuters coverage of the speech.

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President Donald Trump applauds with Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, as he delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Foreign policy analysts cited in international reporting described the address as reinforcing a transactional approach to global security, with diplomacy presented as conditional and backed by force.

For Tehran, the message was unmistakable. Trump framed the nuclear issue as non-negotiable in outcome, as the next round of negotiations is set to start in Geneva on Thursday.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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