What Happened
Panama’s Electoral Tribunal approved a direct advertising contract worth $145,500 a year for a Sunday television program, with payments set at $13,500 per month. The agreement was authorized by the full bench of magistrates and covers placements on China TV, a half-hour program broadcast on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. with a rebroadcast at 5:00 p.m.
The package allows the Tribunal to place up to two minutes of content per monthly program, including spots or reports, and adds a weekly bonus placement through China TV’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. Based on the agreed structure, the cost works out to $3,375 per program and its repeat airing, plus the digital bonus.
How the Contract Was Approved
The direct hiring process moved quickly. The company presented an updated proposal on March 13, 2026, and the Tribunal approved the arrangement on March 16, 2026. A separate resolution dated February 3, 2026, had already authorized the direct contract at the request of the Tribunal’s communications office.
In the approval, the Tribunal also declared “evident urgency” to address the need behind the contract. The justification tied the program to institutional outreach aimed at the Chinese-Panamanian community and to public information campaigns on elections, voter registration, civil registry updates, civic education, and other citizen services.
The Company Behind the Deal
The contract was signed with Builders and Civil Solutions, S.A., a company incorporated in 2015. Its current officers include Joel Abdías Villota Murillo as president, Mariano Sanz Molero as secretary and legal representative, and Jorge Luis Andreve Díaz as treasurer. Juan Eduardo Vega Benedito acted as attorney in the most recent corporate filing.
Corporate records show that the company’s original business description focused on construction, remodeling, delivery services, real estate, and the buying, selling, distribution, import and export of goods, along with other lawful activities. That corporate purpose does not mention mass communication services.
Why It Matters
The contract stands out because it is a direct award, not a competitive bid, and because the spending will be charged to operating funds rather than the Tribunal’s advertising budget. That structure makes the deal notable in a period when public institutions in Panama face scrutiny over procurement decisions and how they justify direct contracting.
The arrangement also highlights the Electoral Tribunal’s effort to reach specific audiences through traditional television and social media. By linking institutional messaging to a niche program and its digital platforms, the Tribunal is betting on targeted outreach to expand public awareness of electoral services and civic processes.