Diandino Pena, the head of the Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET) and the person in control of the whole metro and public transportation project, told reporters from Hoy newspaper that the cost of using the system would be RD$20 and that the system would be in operation towards the end of the current Fernandez administration. The first three units of the Metro subway system arrived at the Port of Haina late last week, and were paraded through the streets of Santo Domingo in a show of major proportions.
For photos and updates on the metro construction, see the running thread http://www.dr1.com/forums/dr-debates/37887-santo-domingo-metro.html
The Dominican Senate has approved its own version of the 2008 National Budget, voting to assign a total of RD$300,889,000,000 for its own expenditures during the year. The budget was passed with the 'yea' votes of the PLD and PRSC senators.
Hoy itemizes several of the allotments for the Legislative Branch approved by the legislators. For the 178 member Chamber of Deputies, approved were: RD$547 million in fixed wages, RD$76.4 million in telephone service, RD$96 million in per diem in the country and RD$130 million in per diem for travel abroad, RD$75 million in air fares for travel abroad, RD$120 million in food and drink, RD$20 million in art work, RD$30 million in tires for vehicles; RD$80 million for fuel, RD$5.5 for sports equipment, RD$70 million for recreational and educational equipment, RD$30 million for transport equipment.
The 32 senators allotted: RD$2 million for paper, RD$9 million for security forces, RD$5.5 million for local calls, RD$5.5 million for long distance calls, RD$30 million for propaganda, RD$14 million for printing, RD$18 million for fuel, RD$15 million for per diem in the country, RD$14.7 million for expenses, RD$18 million for fuel, RD$41 million for food and beverage.
An opposition PRD spokesperson said that the party would not vote on the measure since it violated laws that assigned specialized funding for specific branches and dependencies, specifically the Judicial Branch, the Chamber of Accounts, the municipalities and Congress. The Presidential Addendum to the budget contains specifics on the use of US$639 million from several loans, since loans must be approved on an individual basis.
The budget package that was approved by the Senate will have to go back to the Chamber of Deputies for final approval. The Chamber of Deputies is expected to expeditely pass the budget, as they did on 26 December 2007.
The City Council of San Cristobal has voted to give itself a 49% pay rise and the mayor is not happy. According to the national newspapers, the mayor says that this will use up the money needed to pay the firemen and the city police. The pay rise gives the council members a total of RD$151,905 per month in so-called "per diems", since city council members are supposed to serve without fixed salaries. According to Mayor Montas, the 16-person council will receive a third of the total city budget for 2008. In comparison to Santo Domingo North, Santo Domingo East or the National District's city budgets, where each council member receives between 0.30% and 0.83% of the budget, in San Cristobal the members will be receiving 2.06% of the total budget. Other city agencies, such as the library, the local fire department, the Cultural Affairs Department, the Ecology Department and the Municipal Police would be left without any funding.
For the second week running fuel prices have hit historic levels with giant price increases for gasoline and a RD$2.00 increase in the price of diesel fuel. Premium gasoline was hit with a RD$6.60 peso increase, bringing the cost of a gallon of lead-free premium gasoline to RD$171.20, about US$5.11 at current exchange rates. Regular gasoline was increased by RD$4.90, bringing the price of a gallon to RD$159.70. Propane gas for household use (in theory at least) remained at the same level - RD$59.95, and for industrial use the price is RD$81.71. Over the past two weeks the price of premium gasoline has increased by RD$10.00 per gallon and regular has gone up by RD$7.60. Diesel has gone up by RD$2.99 during the same period.
Eighth-grader Roberta Serravalle Tholenaar, 13, was found alive and well high up in the mountains near Duarte Peak, the highest point in the Caribbean. She was missing for 30 hours. She was found in good shape by two mountain guides in Hoyo de Agua, together with her mule. It was her third trek to the Pico Duarte. The girl was lost on Friday afternoon and found around 7pm Saturday. She was taken to the Valle de Lilis park station and from there on Sunday at 11am by helicopter to Plaza de la Salud Hospital in Santo Domingo where she spent the night for routine check up. As reported in Hoy, she survived eating three cans of food she had in her backpack. She also looked for footprints in the mud, so as to get pack onto a human-traveled trail. She was taken to Jarabacoa for observation. Initially, Air Force helicopters were used in the search but the dense clouds and rains in the region forced the equipment to be grounded. Roberta was part of an excursion organized in Santo Domingo.
Environment Minister Omar Ramirez visited Roberta Serravalle at the Plaza de la Salud hospital room. The Ministry of Environment announced it would not be issuing permission for Duarte Peak excursions until weather conditions improve.
The Ministry of the Environment has issued a resolution prohibiting the construction of houses along the banks of the Yaque River, thereby taking control of the areas that were affected by the Tavera Dam floodwaters released after Tropical Storm Olga. At the same time, the minister, Omar Ramirez, is asking the National Housing Institute, (INVI) to suspend the reconstruction of houses damaged by the floods until a full study is carried out to identify the best places to rebuild. Ramirez also asked Santiago's mayor, Jose Enrique Sued to take control of the historic market area known as Los Hospedajes (in popular language "Lopedaje"), in order to determine whether the market should stay in its current location.
Linda Read de Portela, the founder of the Yaque School for Women in Santiago, a unique educational center in the La Joya area of the city, handed government officials the damage estimate on the school that was totally flooded out by the waters released from the Tavera Dam after Tropical Storm Olga. The school has 1,200 students who are likely to miss a school year. The Reformed Businesses Heritage Fund (FONPER), headed by Fernando Rosa, received the documents. Rosa said that reconstruction would start as soon as the legalities of budgets and bidding are finished.
A car being driven by a 16-year old hit a house in the Guisa section of San Francisco de Macoris, killing six people and injuring two more. Among the victims was a six-year old child. The victims were mostly young people in their twenties and teens. Guisa is a wide spot on the highway between San Francisco de Macoris and Nagua.
One of the people linked to the murder of the assistant to Ramon Baez Figueroa, the former banking czar, got up and walked out of the courtroom while he was being identified as one of the people present during the actual crime. Jose Bladimir Fernandez Tavera, a.k.a. Papo, surprised the prosecutors by just getting up and leaving the courtroom at the same time as one of the state's principal witnesses was identifying him as having been present and participating in the crime. Fernandez Tavera was free on bail pending the hearing. The "escape" came as lawyers called for a 10-minute recess to find some missing documents, and when the court reconvened, Fernandez was nowhere to be found. Prosecutors asked for an immediate arrest order, which was granted by the court.
The Dominican Republic has been shaking quite frequently these past few days. In less than a month, five quakes stronger than 3.0 on the Richter scale have been registered in the east and in the Cibao Valley. The last small quake, 3.2 on the Richter scale was felt in Higuey. This was the third quake in less than a week. On the 28 December there was another one measuring 3.2 and on 1 January there was one in la Romana. In early December two of these small quakes occurred in the Cibao Valley, affecting the areas of Santiago, San Francisco de Macoris, Moca and Salcedo.
The Weather Office (ONAMET) has announced that the recent rains and low temperatures would continue to affect the entire country, with a frontal system going from east to southeast bringing cloudy skies and more rain. Heavy surf action was also predicted for the eastern coastline. Hospitals have reported an increase in patients complaining of flu-like symptoms. In addition, the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) has issued a Yellow Alert for much of the eastern provinces and for the eastern Cibao Valley, especially the low-lying areas of the Lower Yuna Basin. The recent rains have affected about 32 houses around the country. Three were destroyed completely and seven showed severe damage. Most of the damage occurred in El Valle, Samana, where 22 families had to be evacuated when strong waves started hitting the shoreline. In Higuey, 10 homes were damaged in the Antonio Guzman Fernandez barrio after the Duey River burst its banks.
The traditional Three Kings Parade, celebrating the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem, organized by the Santo Domingo Fire Department and the National District City Council provided a wonderful experience for thousands of children and adults yesterday. In fact, El Caribe reports that it was uncertain who enjoyed the parade more, the parents or the children. As Melchor, Balthazar and Gaspar rode down the street, each corner was filled with children riding the shoulder of an adult or held by the hand. The parade was led by the Fire Department Band. The 73-year traditional procession runs from the Fire Station on Mella Avenue around the streets of Emilio Prud'Homme, Mexico, Arzobispo Merino, El Conde, and others before arriving at Independence Park. As the cavalcade rode by the "kings" threw out candies and small toys to the crowd.
The Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (FINJUS) is pushing a piece of legislation aimed at forcing the Supreme Court to implement the decisions against the Dominican Republic that are handed down by international tribunals according to treaties that have been ratified by the DR. The proposal sets out how the payment of penalties is to be carried out under the Attorney General's supervision. As a signatory to the treaty that created the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Dominican Republic should respect the court's decisions, but the FINJUS project seeks to impose stiffer sanctions.
In Friday's action, the Gigantes del Cibao defeated the Aguilas Cibaenas on their home turf, 5-4 behind the timely hitting of Kendry Morales, maintaining their early hopes alive. In San Pedro de Macoris, the Estrellas Orientales continued their Cinderella-like story with a come-from-behind, 3-2. Fernando Tatis hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to seal a three-run rally and give the Estrellas the victory.
On Saturday, all the games were rained out. The Estrellas were supposed to play the Aguilas in Santiago's Estadio Cibao, and the Tigres del Licey were going to visit San Francisco de Macoris and play the Gigantes.
On Sunday, the Aguilas were able to play the Tigres del Licey in the Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo and defeated the Tigres 5-2, thanks to the strong hitting of Victor Diaz and the good pitching of Ed Knott. The game between the Estrellas and the Gigantes in San Francisco de Macoris was called off on account of rain.
Because of the rainouts, there will be no more open dates on the Round Robin Calendar.
| Team | Win | Lost | Percent | Games Behind |
| Estrellas Orientales | 6 | 2 | .750 | -- |
| Tigres del Licey | 4 | 5 | .444 | 2.5 |
| Aguilas Cibaenas | 4 | 5 | .444 | 2.5 |
| Gigantes del Cibao | 3 | 5 | .375 | 3.0 |
In San Francisco de Macoris, the Tigres del Licey will play the Gigantes del Cibao at 7:30pm, and the game will be broadcast on CERTV.
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