巴拿马财政部表示，尽管发生了周五的7.7级地震，该部仍将维持3.5%的预算赤字上限，并排除了申请豁免的可能性。官员们表示，保险赔付和国际赠款将首先用于支付救援费用。
Panama's finance ministry said it will keep its 3.5% budget deficit cap even after Friday's magnitude-7.7 earthquake, ruling out a waiver. Officials said insurance payouts and international grants will cover relief costs first.
巴拿马财政部周一证实，尽管周五的7.7级地震造成了破坏，该国仍不会寻求豁免3.5%的预算赤字上限。官员们表示，这一决定反映出各方对现有财政缓冲能够吸收此次冲击充满信心。
Panama's finance ministry confirmed on Monday that it will not seek a waiver of the country's 3.5% budget deficit cap, despite the destruction caused by Friday's magnitude-7.7 earthquake. Officials said the decision reflects confidence that existing fiscal buffers can absorb the shock.
该部表示，在考虑任何新的借贷之前，将首先动用保险赔付和国际赠款来资助地震救援和重建。当局仍在评估受灾沿海地区道路、桥梁和建筑物的受损情况。
The ministry said insurance payouts and international grants will be tapped first to fund earthquake relief and reconstruction, before any new borrowing is considered. Authorities are still assessing damage to roads, bridges and buildings in the affected coastal areas.
经济学家表示，坚守赤字上限旨在向债券投资者保证巴拿马的财政纪律，尽管政府正面临着资助昂贵救援行动的压力。随着损害的全部代价逐渐明朗，这种做法将在未来几周面临考验。
Economists said holding the line on the deficit cap is meant to reassure bond investors about Panama's fiscal discipline, even as the government faces pressure to fund an expensive relief effort. The approach will be tested in the coming weeks as the full cost of the damage becomes clear.