The Government will begin this weekend to respond to the damage left by the hurricane Fiona in the Dominican Republic and immediately, it will have a housing adaptation plan in the affected areas.
In this sense, the president Louis Abinader announced this Wednesday that during this weekend the reconstruction of 5,500 homes will begin in the provinces of the East region and 2,800 in the Northeast. Some will be built from scratch and others will be repaired.
Participating in the project, in addition to the Government, the mayor’s offices, neighborhood associations, the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (Codia) and the Dominican Association of Builders and Housing Promoters (Acoprovi). From now on, work is being done to transport the materials to the demarcations affected by Fiona.
The lifting protocol will be prepared by the Emergency Operations Center (COE), according to Abinader in a press conference in which several state officials participated and a balance was passed on the damage, as well as the immediate reaction plan.
To date, the Ministry of Economy audits the amount to see how many are causing damage. Similarly, the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Directorate are working on the identification of funds for responses to the works, according to the head of state.
They will be numerous only President Abinader indicated.
Abinader said that it will be this Thursday, when he has a report from the Treasury to find out where the money comes from, which could be from the supplementary budget submitted to Congress and another source, such as a loan of 200 million dollars from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that has already been approved and has not been touched.
electrical damage
Regarding the energy sector, the president announced that 90% of the affected circuits have been reestablished in the Northeast. In the case of Samaná, Abinader said that support is provided to private companies that provide energy to Las Galeras, El Limón and Las Terrenas.
In the East, he said that energy has been recovered by 60% in La Altagracia and La Romana, while Hato Mayor, El Seibo and San Pedro de Macorís recovered 90% of the circuits.
Agriculture
To boost the agricultural sector, Abinader reported that the payment of the current loans with Bagrícola with a period of seven years and zero rate.
Also, the producers who have financing with commercial banks will be transferred to Bagrícola with a zero rate and those who have informal debts, the government asked them to approach Bagrícola to see the financial support that will be given to them.
Drinking water
According to the director of Inapa (National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewage), Wellington Arnaud, one million 100 thousand Dominicans were affected with drinking water, since 53 aqueducts were hit.
In this sense, Arnaud indicated that 400,000 people already receive the liquid and that work is being done to normalize the Hato Mayor system.
In addition to this rescue project, the President recalled that the Government delivered almost 100 million pesos to mayors for the hiring of personnel for the cleaning works, apart from materials that have been donated through the Dominican Federation of Municipalities (Fedomu).
Said money will be audited, Abinader pointed out. And whoever takes advantage, “will be subjected to an emergency,” he specified.
Trip to Samana
This Thursday, Abinader will travel to the province of Samaná to supervise the affected areas and announce the rescue plan that he announced at the Palace.
