Due to the hiking deaths of two Dutch tourists, civil defense agency Sinaproc has initiated a program to erect signs on trails and publish information about their levels of difficulties.
The plan, called "Risk prevention and reduction of vulnerabilities in the tourist destinations of Panama," went into action Monday on El Pianista trail, where the Dutch tourists went missing in April. The work will continue next week on the Los Quetzales trail. Both are located in Chiriqui.
According to Sinaproc, Panama has about 180 trails. They will be evaluated to determine their level of risk and to see if any should be closed. The objectives are to prevent accidents through the integration of technological systems and the participation of communities in risk management.
The agency will also better regulate the national trails system. All trails will be geo-referenced through a virtual network called "Senderos secure network." It will include their level of difficulty and the severity of the natural environment that each one has.
http://www.prensa.com/uhora/locales/panama-inicia-senalizacion-senderos-panama/404547?en
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Sinaproc has recently held training courses for local guides in first aid and trail safety under a program called Senderos Seguros. Another definite step in the right direction.