JUNE 2010

Ministry of Tourism inaugurates The Mansion resort complex

Complejo hotelero ‘La Mansión’ en San José Las MatasWith an investment of 293 million pesos

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The Ministry of Tourism has opened the The Mansion resort hotel, in the municipality of San Jose de la Matas, Santiago province, with an investment of two hundred ninety-three million pesos.

The complex, which consists of a Hotel with 20 rooms and 8 villas, was rebuilt by the Development Corporation of the Hotel Industry and Tourism Development (Corphotels), an agency overseen by the Ministry of Tourism, according to Hoy newspaper.

In addition to the single and double rooms, which are named after communities in the region, the hotel has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar, restaurant, play areas and entertainment facilities.

This project has revitalized the local economy, having been directly responsible for the creation 2,700 new jobs and indirectly responsible for the creation of about 500 jobs, taking into account vendors and suppliers.

The resort also has one hundred additional villas, which have been leased to Dominicans and foreigners for twenty years, who have the responsibility of rebuilding and maintaining them.

Santiago Live, 01.06.10

Expoturismo 2010 Begins this Friday in Santiago

’Expoturismo’ 2010 in SantiagoIdeal setting to promote el Cibao

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The latest version of Expoturismo is the appropriate setting for marketing tourism in the region of el Cibao. According to Ramon Paulino, president of the organizing committee, the event’s inauguration will be attended by Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia. The tourism fair this year will take place in the Convention Center of the Gran Almirante Hotel June 4th and 5th.

Paulino affirmed that this time the discounted airfare, hotel and cruise packages, will carry a 20 to 40 percent savings over normal fares, but only to those who make their purchases during the fair. He also noted that the event has been in existence for 13 years, and that this time it will be dedicated to the Tourist Press Summit, which will soon be held.

We have managed to provide a suitable environment for promoting tourism while making it possible for the public to organize their holidays economically claimed Executive Director of the event, Yomarys Gomez.

Santiago Live, 04.06.10

New Maternity Ward in the Regional University Hospital José María Cabral y Báez

Yadira Pérez Pieter in the maternity of SantiagoOpened by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The Ministry of Health and Welfare inaugurated a maternity ward at the Regional University Hospital  José María Cabral y Báez, which was remodeled at a cost of over two million pesos.

The renovation of the Neonatal unit included the installation of new equipment, replacing the old floors with porcelain, painting, repairs to bathrooms and changes in lighting.

In addition, the work included provisions for new beds, sheets, covers, mattresses, trash cans and ornamental plants.

The renovation was overseen by the regional manager for North Central Health, Dr Pieter Yadira Perez, in conjunction with the care center’s director, Dr. Nelson Baez. The former stated that the new unit will have a direct impact on a population of over 100,000 low income mothers in the region.

It is a clear and demonstrable concern of the Government and the authorities of the Ministry of Public Health, headed by Dr. Bautista Rojas Gomez, to minimize the maternal and infant mortality rates regionally and nationally, said Dr.Baez.

Santiago Live, 09.06.10

Seismic Prevention Panel in the Cibao region

Seismic Prevention Panel in SantiagoOrganized by the Santiago Governance and the National Institute of Public Administration

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The Provincial Government and the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP) sponsored a panel on seismic prevention cases in the Cibao region.

The activity was aimed at employees and public officials in order to enable them to know what actions should be taken before and during an earthquake.

The panel was headed by the President of the Geological Society (SODOGEO), Santiago José Muñoz Tapia, who is in charge on the issue of fault lines in the Dominican Republic, specifically in the Cibao Region.

Muñoz Tapia, who is also director of the National Geological Survey of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, explained the changes which have occurred on Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

He commented that the island sits on the Caribbean tectonic plate, while its borders are in contact to the north with the North American Plate, to the south with the South America plate, to the east with the Nazca plate, and to the west with the Atlantic ocean floor.

Tapia Muñoz, who is an engineer, explained the main flaws that govern the island, noting that to the north is the fault of Hispaniola, in which is located the Puerto Rico Trench (Milwaukee Trench) North Fault, which penetrates the island at Manzanillo Bay and continues in the southern part of the Northern Cordillera leaving the Bay of Samaná, with a length of more than 300 kilometers.

The other system is located south of the island, which enters the south of Haiti and runs to San Juan and Ocoa, reaching the Caribbean Sea all the way to the Dead Pit, south of Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana.

During his speech he urged those present to be aware of the best areas to build their homes, and which type of rock formation exists there, in order to minimize risks in the event of an earthquake.

Santiago Live, 15.06.10

Dominican cigar exports grow

Dominican Institute of TobaccoReach US $ 391.8 million in 2009

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- Exports of premium and machine made cigars have grown gradually but steadily over the past six years, during which the head of INTABACO has been Adalberto Rosa.

According to statements issued by Rosa, in 2004 exports went from 455.3 million units of cigars to 514.5 million in 2005. In 2008 they rose to 719.8 million and in 2009 they reached the amount of 759.9 million units of cigars worth 391.8 million dollars.

These statements were provided by the official as part of the celebration of the anniversary of INTABACO, which was founded 48 years ago this Tuesday.

He noted that when he hands over control of the institution he will do so satisfied that he has accomplished his task for the country, because he has always taken into account the national interests when he has held a public function.

These numbers show that I have fulfilled the functions for which I was appointed head of the company, INTABACO by my associate Leonel Fernandez .

Rosa was elected deputy in the congressional elections last may.

Santiago Live, 16.06.10

Establishment of the Dominican Center for Food Research (CEDIA)

Agreement signature between Center for Exports and Investment of the Dominican Republic and the Higher Institute of Agriculture, SantiagoCEI-RD and ISA seek to strengthen the export sector

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The Center for Exports and Investment of the Dominican Republic and the Higher Institute of Agriculture, Santiago (ISA) signed an agreement to establish the Dominican Center for Food Research (CEDIA).

With this agreement these groups mean to jointly conduct research, studies and provide technical laboratory, microbiological, and physico-chemical services, to the producers, traders and exporters, through analysis that strengthen the production and exportation of foodstuffs from the Dominican Republic.

The agreement also will help to advance technologies and processes for the development of new products and packaging systems in different areas such as; meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and bread, and thus making better use and gaining greater value of the food resources of the country.

According to CEI-RD director Eddy Martinez Manzueta, the agreement means a specialized form of human resources in the different sectors involved in the production and export of food products in the Dominican Republic.

This collaboration will also investigate and validate the processes and technology of the food and beverage industry for its implementation in the Dominican Republic through training in the use of such technology.

He also explained that they will seek to support and train in the management of quality systems, for producers, traders and exporters, standardizing the processes of technological innovation and ensuring food safety.

Santiago Live, 21.06.10

National Plan Quisqueya Verde carries out reforestation in Santiago

National Plan Quisqueya Verde in SantiagoPlanting oak and mahogany trees on the banks of the Yaque del Norte River

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- Hundreds of oak and mahogany trees were planted on the banks of the Yaque del Norte River during a day of reforestation developed by a group of young people from this city in coordination with the National Plan Quisqueya Verde.

The day of reforestation in the Yaque del Norte in the area of Bella Vista was led by the director of the National Plan Quisqueya Verde, José Enrique Baez Ureña.

Among the varieties of trees that were planted on the banks of the Rio Yaque del Norte were oak and mahogany.

Ureña Baez explained to the young people who were involved in the reforestation, that the work and functions of the institution is to restore and protect forests.

Baez Ureña, also emphasized that there were more than 300 brigades working around the country and in parts of the Haitian territory.

He said the new project called Frontera Verde, which arose in order to contribute to the reforestation of Haiti, also provides families with a living wage for the workers in the brigades.

The Quisqueya Verde director stressed the importance of reforestation for any country and praised the action of planting a tree.

Santiago Live, 22.06.10

Ministry of Public Works making progress on repairs to Duarte highway

VIADOM project in SantiagoTowards the entrance of Santiago

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The Ministry of Public Works is performing repairs on Duarte highway between Santo Domingo and Santiago as part of VIADOM 2010. The overall investment of this project is more than $470 million dollars.

The roadwork to the Duarte highway consists of the removal of the damaged asphalt, and restructuring the sections and asphalt in the median areas of both the right and left lanes.

After repairing the damage to the Duarte highway, the work will proceed to complete the asphalting of the 127 km stretch between kilometer marker 21 and kilometer marker 148 of the highway.

Two teams with heavy equipment, workers and technicians, are responsible for the first stage of rehabilitation of the Duarte highway. The first team is working toward Santiago from Santo Domingo and has restructured more than 6 kilometers with 5 kilometers totally paved, while the other team removed and re-asphalted the lanes moving in the direction of Santiago, Santo Domingo.

The first work undertaken was the construction of Santiago Avenue Bypass, this road will have four lanes that will go from the south of Santiago to the Northwest bypassing the city center, for transiting from Santo Domingo to the Northern coastal provinces.

The construction of Ring Avenue began at kilometer 148 of the Autopista Duarte (between Santo Domingo - Santiago) and will reach kilometer 157 of the highway between Santiago and Duarte Navarrete.

Santiago Live, 24.06.10

Santiago will have a Medical City

Medical city in SantiagoThe facilities will be ready soon

BREAKING NEWS: Santiago.- The director of the Essential Medicine Program (PROMESE-CAL), Elena Fernández, informed citizens of the community Barranquita, that Medical City, a program to deliver free medicines to patients with glaucoma and insulin, donated by the government, will soon be up and running.

She also reported that she handed over to President Leonel Fernández the largest network of People’s Pharmacies that exists in Latin America, with 432 units around the country and the installation of another 50 is expected, with the purpose of responding to the needs of the most vulnerable sectors of society.

As for the donation of medicines to be used by people suffering from glaucoma, she said the program will begin to be implemented in public hospitals that are already certified, as is the case of Robert Read Cabral in the capital, also, the hospitals José María Cabral y Báez, and Arturo Grullon, Santiago.

She added that the same criteria apply to medicines for diabetics, including children.She emphasized that the health care centers are the most vulnerable. Dr. Fernández said that the equipment used to measure the level of diabetes will also be donated.

There are drugs in private pharmacies that cost 300 pesos, but we will be able to provide the same product for 20 pesos, she said. She stated that the drugs used by PROMESE-CAL, are certified to be of the highest quality standards, to the extent that Washington, through the World Bank, has recommended this methodology be applied to all of Latin America.

In the case of the dialysis program, PROMESE-CAL will donate the equipment. She indicated that she is educating patients to do the dialysis for themselves in their homes and return to the hospital two days a month for supervision, until there are transplants or other interventions available. She also spoke of the programs to serve cancer patients, who will be able to receive all their medicines free of charge.

Santiago Live, 29.06.10