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The study aimed to conduct a participatory environmental assessment in the Santa Fé district of Veraguas, based on residents' perceptions. To this end, structured surveys were administered to 344 randomly selected residents, addressing variables such as access to basic services, air and water quality, waste management, presence of vectors, exposure to chemicals and radiation, as well as perceptions of climate change and natural disasters. The design was cross-sectional and descriptive, collecting data at a specific time point to analyze environmental conditions and their impact on the community. The descriptive analysis, conducted using Microsoft Excel, showed that the majority of the surveyed population was adults of working age (59%). However, 79% reported deficiencies in basic services, especially access to drinking water, sewage treatment, and garbage collection. Seventy-two percent of respondents reported suffering from respiratory illnesses associated with poor air quality, while 69% reported water-related conditions. Although 65% of the population receives garbage collection services, inadequate practices such as burning and burying waste persist. Regarding climate change, 77% perceive its impact, although only 34% have observed direct effects such as natural disasters. The results show a close relationship between environmental conditions and public health, underscoring the need to implement sustainable policies, improve basic services, and strengthen environmental education to improve the quality of life of Santa Fe residents.
