The urban growth of intermediate cities in Panama poses significant challenges for sustainable territorial planning, especially when urban expansion occurs at a rate exceeding the capacity of institutional management. In this context, this study aims to analyze citizens' perceptions of urban development and its relationship to territorial planning in the city of Santiago de Veraguas. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, descriptive-correlational, and cross-sectional design. The instrument used allowed for the evaluation of variables related to urban growth, mobility, land use, the availability of services and public spaces, as well as knowledge of territorial planning instruments. The results show that most residents perceive recent urban growth as poorly planned and that the expansion of housing developments has exceeded the city's planning capacity. It is concluded that citizens' perceptions constitute a relevant input for understanding urban dynamics and identifying territorial challenges that are not always evident in technical planning instruments.
