country was ruled by a military government under the name of General Command of the mainland, which included the province of Veraguas. On November 28, 1821 independence from Spain was proclaimed in Panama City. On 4 December of the same year in the city of Santiago has proclaimed the Independence of the Veraguas province of Spanish power. On November 9, 1903 at 3:30 pm, in the city, signed the Act of Accession to the separation of Panama from Colombia. Villages Santiago District comprises the following townships: Santiago, La Colorada, La Peña, La Raya de Santa María, Ponuga, San Pedro del Espino, Canto del Llano, Los Algarrobos, San Martín de Porres, Urracá, Edwin Fábrega, Carlos Santana Ávila, La Soledad, Rincón Largo, El Llanito and Rodrigo Luque. Economy Santiago's economy is based on trade, banking, agriculture and livestock. To a lesser degree in the pottery industry, in towns like La Peña, and leatherworking at La Colorada. Demographics The population of the city of Santiago is 88,997 inhabitants (National Census figures from 2010). Infrastructure Santiago is a transportation hub for the Veraguas province, with buses running regularly to smaller towns in the area. It is well connected to the rest of the country and has historically served as a stopover point for people traveling from Panama City to other parts of the country such as Chitré and David. Its position in the middle of the country has been used to its advantages, promoting the construction of important roads and bridges to connect the rest of the Veraguas province. The Pan-American Highway passes through the city and public transportation is available for its residents. Like many other cities in Panama, Santiago is a city without high-rises, but instead has retained a more colonial architecture and feel. Modern buildings are found sprawled throughout the city, especially used for shopping centers, banks, and government offices. Its colonial roots are great in historical value and can be seen through The Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Normal School, a declared a national historical monument, The Regional Museum of Veraguas and the St. James the Apostle Cathedral. The city is served by two main hospitals - Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fábrega in the outskirts of the city and the Dr. Horacio Díaz Gómez Polyclinic. Other smaller health care facilities, both public and private, can be found throughout the city. Different infrastructure projects, such as the improvement of the quality of roads