Gaspar Hernández (Espaillat).– He President Luis Abinader ordered the immediate intervention of all affected areas in the Gaspar Hernández municipalityafter heavy rains that caused the overflowing of the Joba River, and provided compensation for families and merchants who suffered losses.
The president toured the impacted areas to talk with the residents and learn first-hand about the magnitude of the damage. During the tour, he expressed his solidarity with those affected and assured that, from the beginning of the situation, the Government activated the response to emergencies.
He reported that many homes will not be able to be rehabilitated because they are in vulnerable areas, so he ordered that their residents be compensated, as well as the merchants who suffered losses.
“They are going to be given special help to move because we do nothing to help rebuild a home in a vulnerable area so that the same thing happens in two years,” said the president.
Likewise, he instructed the director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi), Olmedo Caba, to build a gabion wall to protect the communities from future floods of the tributary and the creation of a walk that guarantees greater security for the locals.
The head of state pointed out that what happened last week is one of the consequences of climate change, which causes more intense rainfall in shorter periods. He indicated that, in addition to the gabion wall and the upstream intervention, drainage adaptation will be carried out to mitigate risks.
“We are living in a very special time; we have seen that the rains occur in shorter periods and with greater intensity. That is also part of global warming, of the changes that we have seen here in the Dominican Republic and in other parts of the world,” he said.
Faced with this reality, he stressed that the Government must react based on these changes and focus on what is urgent, guaranteeing that those affected receive official aid, including farmers who recorded losses due to the floods.
The president reported that he hopes to have this Wednesday the exact quantification of the damages and the amounts required for reconstruction and compensation.
“The Economic Kitchens are also constantly helping so that there is no situation with the issue of food and belongings of those affected. We have to determine which ones should move and change their homes,” he indicated.
Prior to the tour, the head of state held a meeting with national and municipal authorities to find out the magnitude of the damage and coordinate response actions. There he was informed about the damage to several First Level Care Centers and school infrastructure, whose immediate intervention was ordered.
After concluding the meeting, the ruler supervised the bridge, the Cave of the Lions and other areas impacted by the flooding of the tributary.
President Abinader was accompanied by the Minister of Housing and Buildings, Víctor -Ito- Bisonó; the governor, Patricia Muñoz Salcedo and the heads of the National Health Service (SNS), Julio Landrón; from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indhri), Olmedo Caba, from the Directorate of Social Assistance and Community Food (Dasac), Edgar Augusto Féliz Méndez; the director of the Moca Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation (Coraamoca), Sandy Mendez and on behalf of the administrative minister of the presidency Andrés Bautista, Enmanuel Bautista.
