---
title: "Panama Environment Ministry Halts Marbella Tower Project After Illegal Matasnillo River Discharge"
date: 2026-04-12
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/matasnillo-river-discharge-marbella-project/
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Bella Vista"
  - "construction project"
  - "Marbella"
  - "Matasnillo River"
  - "Ministry of Environment"
  - "Panama City"
---

# Panama Environment Ministry Halts Marbella Tower Project After Illegal Matasnillo River Discharge

## What Happened

The Ministry of Environment ordered the immediate suspension of a construction project in Marbella, in the Bella Vista corregimiento of Panama City, after detecting an illegal discharge of contaminated water that flowed directly into the Matasnillo River.

The project is owned by The Panoramic Residences Corp., represented by Nassly Argentina de la Concepción Ruiz Sequeira, a Nicaraguan citizen. The development is registered in its environmental impact study as _Moderna – 360 Urban Living_.

The company submitted the environmental impact study in July 2025 and received approval in November of that year. The planned development includes a 23-story building with apartments, parking levels, a lobby level, and rooftop areas.

## Why the Project Drew Complaints

Resident concerns surfaced before the enforcement action. On October 31, 2025, Bella Vista representative César Kiamco sent a formal request to the Ministry of Environment relaying objections from neighbors near the site. The communication included a statement from the administration of PH Torre del Pacífico A, whose residents opposed the project over its possible urban and environmental effects.

That request asked the authorities to review the project’s urban compatibility under the existing land-use and zoning framework, including density, parking availability, pedestrian access, and vehicle mobility. It also called for a closer look at the mitigation and integration measures proposed for a densely built area under heavy development pressure.

After the contamination was detected this week, Kiamco said it was important to determine the full extent of the environmental impact. He noted that sediment is common in construction work, but it must be properly managed and treated before being discharged into stormwater systems.

## Environmental Conditions Were Clear

The approved environmental impact study had explicitly prohibited any discharge into the Matasnillo River. It also required construction methods that would prevent damage to the river’s physical characteristics, avoid altering its flow or water quality, and protect the biological components of the urban waterway.

The document also barred the storage of construction materials in the river area, the dumping of waste near the channel, and any release of contaminating liquids. Other conditions aimed to reduce noise and dust during construction.

The Matasnillo River runs through one of Panama City’s most pressured urban corridors and has long faced strain from development and pollution. That context gives added weight to any violation affecting its banks or water quality.

## Inspection and Sanctions Process

During the inspection, Ministry of Environment officials also identified poor waste-handling practices and inadequate containment structures, worsening the environmental impact at the site. As a result, the agency ordered mandatory corrective measures, including a full stop to construction, cleanup of the affected channel, sealing of the illegal connection, and proper removal and disposal of contaminated materials.

The responsible parties were summoned to appear on April 15, 2026, at the Metropolitan Regional office, where they will be notified of the start of an administrative sanctioning process. For now, only remediation and sanitation work may continue at the site.

The case places new attention on enforcement around construction projects in Panama City, especially in areas where urban growth intersects with fragile waterways.