The government of the Dominican Republic announced that it will allocate RD$2 billion (USD 33.3 million), funds recovered from corruption cases of previous administrations, to the construction and renovation of 40 sports facilities in 15 provinces of the country.
President Luis Abinader reported that the works will include accessible spaces for people with disabilities and older adults. The president stated that the publication of the amounts and locations seeks to reinforce transparency regarding the use of public resources.
"We want to be accountable in terms of transparency, especially with resources that are recovered from corruption and are being used for sports infrastructure," Abinader said. He also noted that the diversion of state funds prevents the execution of projects for the population.
The head of state indicated that the planned facilities will function as community gathering spaces and venues for sports practice for young people.
The sports program totals RD$2.232 billion
The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, specified that the set of works amounts to RD$2.232 billion (USD 37.1 million). Of that total, RD$2 billion (USD 33.3 million) comes from recovered funds, and the difference, RD$232 million (USD 3.9 million), will be managed by the Presidency.
Cruz stated that 26 of the 158 Dominican municipalities did not have sports facilities. He mentioned, among the spaces requiring interventions...
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The administration of Luis Abinader allocated the equivalent of USD 33.3 million for projects in 15 provinces, under the supervision of an oversight commission. The government of the Dominican Republic announced that it will allocate RD$2 billion (USD 33.3 million), funds recovered from corruption cases of previous administrations, to the construction and renovation of 40 sports facilities in 15 provinces of the country. President Luis Abinader reported that the works will include spaces accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly. The president stated that the publication of the amounts and locations seeks to reinforce transparency regarding the use of public resources. "We want to be accountable in terms of transparency, especially with resources that are recovered from corruption and are being used for sports infrastructure," Abinader said. He also noted that the diversion of state funds prevents the execution of projects for the population. The head of state indicated that the planned facilities will function as community gathering spaces and venues for youth sports practice. The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, specified that the total of the works amounts to RD$2.232 billion (USD 37.1 million). Of that total, RD$2 billion (USD 33.3 million) comes from recovered funds, and the difference, RD$232 million (USD 3.9 million), will be managed by the Presidency. The plan includes roofs, courts, stadiums, and complexes in municipalities that lacked spaces for physical and recreational activities (Photo courtesy of the Presidency). Cruz stated that 26 of the 158 Dominican municipalities did not have sports facilities. He mentioned, among the spaces requiring interventions, the baseball stadium of San Juan de la Maguana and the sports complexes of San Pedro de Macorís and La Vega. The funds will be under the supervision of an Oversight Commission, headed by Persio Maldonado. According to the organization, the bidding process allowed for savings of RD$125 million (USD 2.1 million) compared to the initially projected budget. The commission also includes Monsignor Héctor Rafael Rodríguez Rodríguez, Judge Milton Ray Guevara, José Joaquín Puello, and Luis Mejía Oviedo, known as Luisín Mejía. In La Romana, the Government will build the multi-purpose roof of Villa Hermosa, with an investment of approximately RD$32 million (USD 532 thousand). In Santo Domingo, the Guanuma multi-purpose court will receive more than RD$21 million (USD 349 thousand), within a plan that includes 32 other roofs in that district. (Photo courtesy of the Presidency). In Dajabón, the El Pino multi-purpose roof will receive more than RD$28 million (USD 466 thousand). The province of Espaillat will host two projects: the Veragua roof, at RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand), and the San Víctor multi-purpose facility, with more than RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand). In Santiago, the interventions include the Sabana Iglesia court, with more than RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand), and the one in Puñal, with more than RD$28 million (USD 466 thousand). In Duarte province, the Eugenio María de Hostos multi-purpose roof, in the municipality of Hostos, will have an allocation of RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand). The Southern region will concentrate 14 sports structures, with a budget exceeding RD$713 million (USD 11.9 million). In Matanzas, Peravia province, a roof will be built for more than RD$28 million (USD 466 thousand). In Los Cacaos, San Cristóbal, another sports space will be built, estimated at nearly RD$25 million (USD 416 thousand). The province of Independencia will have the La Descubierta multi-purpose facility, for more than RD$32 million (USD 532 thousand), and the one in Cristóbal, with RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand). In Elías Piña, works are planned in Pedro Santana, for nearly RD$20 million (USD 333 thousand), and in Juan Santiago, for more than RD$26 million (USD 432 thousand). San Juan will receive RD$76 million (USD 1.3 million) to repair the Hermanos Suárez baseball stadium. In Barahona, multi-purpose roofs will be built in Fundación, with more than RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand); Jaquimeyes, for nearly RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand); and El Peñón, with about RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand). Azua will add interventions in Padre Las Casas, with more than RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand); Guayabal, more than RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand); Las Yayas, about RD$32 million (USD 532 thousand); Tábara Arriba, more than RD$31 million (USD 516 thousand); and Pueblo Viejo, with more than RD$30 million (USD 499 thousand).