DR1 Daily News - Wednesday, 9 November 2016

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May 3, 2000
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Medical simulation center opened at UNPHU
Legislators agree to Medina?s 2017 budget
Dominicans Espaillat, Alcantara, De la Rosa and Peralta win in US election
Chamber of Deputies approves bonds for coal-fired plants
Public hospital doctors get 25%+ raises
UK MPs visit Vargas Maldonado
Vargas Maldonado to speak at AmCham luncheon
Amet closes off Winston Churchill cycle lane
Stores provide 42% of jobs in DR
VillaCon has the most shops
RD$3.95 billion in remittances
DR rating on the Latin American Democratic Index
Colonial City stray dogs and cats to be neutered
Purse-snatcher arrested
Puerto Plata is flooded
Rains drench DR
Oscar D?Leon at Jet Set in Christmas



Medical simulation center opened at UNPHU
President Medina was at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henr?quez Ure?a School of Medicine Medical Simulation Center (Cosmos) on Tuesday, 8 November 2016. The modern center will provide tools that will help medical students, paramedics and health professionals to develop technical skills. Healthcare simulation instruction will combine elements of theory, practice and immersive experiential learning focusing on simulation as a teaching tool at the new center. The center is a first phase of an ambitious larger project that includes a simulation hospital.

President Medina and Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo were hosted by rector of the UNPHU, Miguel Fiallo Calderon who expressed his appreciation to the government for its support for the initiative.

The center will train staff working at the 911 System and other rescue institutions. The new center incorporates human patient simulation, virtual reality, task trainers and computerized simulation. The main goal is to improve safety within patient care, enabling physicians to hone their skills and refine advanced techniques and learning by practicing on plastic.

President Medina toured the new center where the students will use anatomic models and computerized mannequins, said Jos? Asilis Z?iter, dean of the Health Sciences Faculty at the UNPHU.
Minister of Public Health Altagracia Guzm?n Marcelino and Minister of Higher Education Alejandrina Germ?n were also present.

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...aciones-simulacion-medica-sistematizada-unphu


Legislators agree to Medina?s 2017 budget
Dionis Sanchez, president of the bi-cameral Senate and Chamber of Deputies commission reviewing the 2017 National Budget received from the Presidency, says it will present the bill for approval without changes. The budget is for RD$711.39 billion. The ruling PLD party is majority in both houses of the National Congress.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia/no-habra-variacion-en-el-informe-del-presupuesto-2017-XJ5380707


Dominicans Espaillat, Alcantara, De la Rosa and Peralta win in US election
In the election that ended with the surprise win by Republican candidate businessman Donald Trump over former first lady, senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Dominican Democrat candidates fared well.

Democrat Adriano Espaillat became the first Dominican-American to be elected to the House of Representatives of the United States in the general election in the United States on Tuesday, 8 November 2016. He will succeed Representative Charles Rangel, a fellow Democrat who has held the seat since 1971.

?I am deeply grateful to the people of the 13th Congressional District for electing me to serve as their next Congressman,? he remarked via his Twitter account.

In comments to the Wall Street Journal after the election, Espaillat said:
?It really is about new leadership. It?s about turning the page,? Mr. Espaillat, a Democrat, said in an interview. ?In the Bronx, in Harlem or Washington Heights, I?ve found a lot of excitement from people willing to sit down with me and trying to influence the next 10 years of this district.?

Espaillat had endorsed Marisol Alcantara, the Democratic district leader in Harlem, to succeed him in his 31st District seat of the New York Senate as he ran to replace Rep. Charles Rangel. Alcantara was also elected with 85.6% of the vote.
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-york-state-senate-district-31

Dominican Carmen de la Rosa was elected to the New York District 72 State Assembly with 79% of the vote. She was uncontested.
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-york-state-house-district-72

Jose Peralta, running on the Democratic ticket for the New York 13th District seat in the New York State Senate, also won with 86.7% of the vote.
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-york-state-senate-district-13

http://www.wsj.com/articles/espaillat-poised-to-win-house-seat-1478649622


Chamber of Deputies approves bonds for coal-fired plants
In its Tuesday, 8 November 2016 session, the Chamber of Deputies passed the two readings needed for the bill that authorizes the government to make a US$600 million bonds placement for the construction of the Punta Catalina coal-fired power plants in the southwestern province of Peravia.

The Senate has already approved the bill. Both houses have a majority of ruling PLD party legislators.

The government will now place the bonds for the funding needed to complete the construction of the two coal-fired plants with capacity to generate 600 megawatts.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/08/diputados-aprueban-bonos-600-para-plantas-carbon


Public hospital doctors get 25%+ raises
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) and the Ministry of Public Health have signed an agreement for a minimum 25% wage increase for public hospital doctors in 2017, while keeping their present working hours. Government medical authorities had sought minimum four-hour shifts. The increase will be divided into a 10% increase in January and a 15% in August 2017. The agreement includes additional incentives such as 20% for doctors working on the border with Haiti, and 10% for primary care practitioners as of the second half of 2017, and RD$50,000 or RD$90,000 in retirement payments for 1,800 doctors. The government also agreed to contribute RD$20 million to the CMD health provider.

The doctors agreed to steps to strengthen and develop primary care, setting up a Single Health Services Network and the application of merit-based incentives, years in service, distance to the workplace and recertification, which when all combined could mean increases of up to 60% for some.

The agreement was signed by CMD president Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzm?n, Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, Dominican Social Security Institute director Cesar Mella, and Fr. Jesus Castro Martes, rector of the Santo Domingo Catholic University, who acted as mediator.

http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=506314
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...cuerdo-pone-fin-casi-meses-negociaciones.html
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/gobierno-y-medicos-firman-acuerdo-de-aumento-salarial-MK5387934


UK MPs visit Vargas Maldonado
Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado held a meeting with visiting UK and Northern Ireland parliament members on Tuesday, 8 November 2016 to discuss trade and how the UK?s planned departure from the European Union will affect relationships with the Dominican Republic.

The mission was led by Gareth Johnson, the current chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Dominican Republic.

During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo they discussed how Brexit would affect trade with the country and the EU-Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Dominican Republic and the European Union.

As reported, Johnson assured that the implementation of Brexit would not affect farm produce imports from the DR, especially the leading export, organic bananas.

He said that the British enjoyed Dominican bananas because they are very sweet and Brexit will not change their preference. He said that they are exploring the possibility of direct banana exports, not through a third country.
Vargas thanked Johnson for the visit and stressed that the Dominican government was interested in expanding relations with the United Kingdom, especially in diplomatic, political, economical, cultural and tourism areas. He said the Dominican government seeks to be proactive in trade and investment.

In recent years, exports from the DR to the UK have increased 84%, while imports are up 90%, according to the Dominican ambassador to the UK, Federico Cuello, who was also present at the meeting. Dominican exports to the UK are mainly bananas, Chinese vegetables, organic cacao, mangos and avocados. The country imports chemical additives for fuel products, pharmaceuticals and alcoholic beverages, among other products.

The meeting was also attended by UK parliament members Rosie Cooper, Yvonne Fovargue, David Amess, Baroness Hooper, and Lord Bruce of Bennachie. They were accompanied by Lauren Tait, Africa and Human Rights Project Manager for the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union and Matthew Webb, deputy head of the UK mission and consul for the DR and Haiti.*

The Dominican Republic was represented the chairman of the Senate permanent foreign commission Prim Pujals, deputy minister for multilateral political foreign affairs Cesar Medina and deputy minister for economic affairs and international cooperation Hugo Rivera.

In an article published online, Gareth Johnson sees Brexit as opening opportunities. He writes:
?I believe leaving the EU will ultimately provide greater control for the UK over its trading agreements around the world. One issue that was not debated in any great detail during the referendum campaign is the issue of the tariffs imposed by the EU on many countries around the world. The money raised by these tariffs goes straight to the European Union Commission even when these goods are imported to the UK alone.

Brexit will mean we can cut those tariffs, reducing prices on goods for the consumer and any remaining tariffs will come directly back to the UK Government instead of the EU.?

http://www.7dias.com.do/economia/20...as-intercambio-comercial-con-reino-unido.html
http://www.garethjohnsondartford.co.uk/brexit-2/


Vargas Maldonado to speak at AmCham luncheon
Minister of Foreign Relations Miguel Vargas Maldonado will be the keynote speaker at the American Chamber of Commerce 14 December 2016 luncheon. Vargas was invited during a visit to the Ministry by executive vice president William M. Malamud and vice presidents David Fern?ndez and Roberto Herrera. Vargas, a former Minister of Public Works, was appointed Foreign Relations Minister on 16 August 2016, at the start of President Danilo Medina?s second term.*


Amet closes off Winston Churchill cycle lane
The Metropolitan Transport Authority (Amet) has set up traffic cones to try to prevent cars and motorcycles from using a stretch on Santo Domingo?s Av. Winston Churchill bicycle route, which former Mayor Roberto Salcedo built in the final months of his term. Recently social media users have been sharing videos of vehicles using the route to escape traffic congestion along the avenue. The bicycle route was previously a pedestrian area. AMET spokesman Diego Pesqueira said that other measures would soon be implemented.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/...leta-churchill-para-evitar-que-vehiculos-usen


Stores provide 42% of jobs in DR
A recent Central Bank study shows that stores in the Dominican Republic are the biggest job creator (335,867 jobs) or 16.55% of all jobs in the formal sector and 25.89% in the informal sector. Overall, stores are down in the data with 852,006 jobs, or 42.44% of the employed job force.

The other big job creators of former jobs are industry (15.58% and 316,211 jobs), government, defense, and teaching, with 56.12% of people employed.

http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/11/08/comercio-aporta-42-empleos
http://www.bancentral.gov.do/notas_...-nacional-continua-de-fuerza-de-trabajo-encft


VillaCon has the most shops
Villa Consuelo, located north of 27 de Febrero Avenue, has gradually become a major shopping area in Santo Domingo with 15 streets dotted with small and medium-sized shops. It is best known for being the place where you can locate that item you can?t find anywhere else. The area first became popular for selling used items, including materials taken from dismantled houses.

http://eldia.com.do/villacon-zona-comercial-mas-pujante-de-la-ciudad/
http://www.villaconmundial.net/category/villaconsuelo/


RD$3.95 billion in remittances
The Analytica research firm says that as of September 2016, the country has received US$3.95 billion in remittances from Dominicans who live overseas. This is an inter-annual growth of 5.75% from January to September and is up from US$3.06 billion for the same period in 2011. Analytica says that the growth rate of the remittances has slowed since the 11.59% rate in 2014.

http://hoy.com.do/rd-recibe-us3948-millones-en-remesas-hasta-septiembrec/


DR rating on the Latin American Democratic Index
The DR has moved up two places to 11th place, below the regional average and still well below its level in 2004, at the time of the change from the PRD to the PLD ruling party in the Latin American Democratic Index study released on 8 November 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The study is sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and carried out by Polilat, a specialized political consulting firm.

In the section of Democracy of the Institutions, the country has improved, and is at the regional Latin American level. In Social Democracy, there was improvement, in jobs and people living in extreme poverty, but the country has a low social development ranking. In Economic Dimension, the report is critical of the debt-taking by the government, with a mid-range economic development level, but not at the regional average.

The report is critical of the changing of the constitution in 2010 to allow for re-election of incumbent President. It also criticizes the high rate of homicides. It mentions the decline in the trust in the judiciary, from 50.6% in 2008 to 38.5% in 2014, and the cases of bribery that have been made public. It mentions the cases of corruption, referring specifically to the Dar?o Contreras public hospital remodeling, a contract with the Office of Supervisory Works of the State (OISOE), and the suicide of an architect who also was a contractor for the OISOE.

http://www.idd-lat.org/2016/informes/2016/index.html
http://www.idd-lat.org/2016/informes_x_pais/302/2016-repblica-dominicana.html
http://hoy.com.do/rd-en-lista-paises-menor-desarrollo-democratico-al/


Colonial City stray dogs and cats to be neutered
The Pets Breeding Control Foundation has announced it will be carrying out a sterilization program on 12 and 13 November 2016 to reduce suffering and control the overpopulation of cats and dogs in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. Volunteer vets and animal lovers, headed by foundation president Lourdes Ripley, are carrying out the campaign.

She said donations have been requested from business owners in the area and they hope to reach around 100 stray dogs and cats in the Colonial City.

http://www.metrord.do/noticias/hara...ros-y-gatos-callejeros/ftwpkh---hzvURWzpRD8v/


Purse-snatcher arrested
The Police Criminal Investigation Department (Dicrim) has announced the capture of one of the most wanted muggers in the National District. He was caught red-handed when grabbing a handbag from a woman on Av. M?xico at the corner with Dr. Delgado. He was named as Erick Manuel Rivas Ruiz, alias Paperita, a resident of Calle Altagracia in San Carlos, National District. He is accused of mugging six women and two men in the Gascue, Don Bosco, La Esperilla and Las Flores areas of the National District.

He was arrested after mugging Ana Brigitte Bonilla and stealing her handbag containing a cell phone, personal documents and RD$10,000 in cash.

He admitted to carrying out previous robberies. He was riding a black Yamaha motorcycle from which he would make the robbery and then escape.

http://pn.gob.do/noticias-principal...iples-robos-y-asaltos-en-el-distrito-nacional


Puerto Plata is flooded
The Ministry of Public Works has sent a convoy with equipment to carry out infrastructure repairs and assist people affected by the torrential rains that caused major flooding in Puerto Plata. In the city, the overflowing river waters led to the closure of schools and the public hospital. The main Av. Manolo Tavarez Justo was flooded, affecting traffic. The rains also affected the Navarrete-Puerto Plata highway.

Touristic operations have been affected, as flooding caused by the heavy rains has led to the Damajagua waterfalls attraction being closed to visitors.

The rains that have been falling since Friday, 4 November 2016, have caused several local rivers, the Bajabonico, Obispo, Unijica, Caonao, Cordov?n, Maim?n, Los Ca?os, San Marcos, Viol?n, Mu?oz, Cam?, Sos?a, Bella Vista, Madre Vieja, Y?sica and dozens of streams to burst their banks.

It is reported that in the municipality of Altamira, Puerto Plata, the communities of Hig?ero, Guaran?, Algarrobos, Quitasue?o are cut off after the collapse of the bridge over Hig?ero River. In Guananico, structural damage was reported to the bridges leading to the communities of Micaela, Los Pen, over Colosal River and the bridge leading to the communities of Sabana de Mude in Luper?n. Three bridges over the Obispo River were also affected and three houses in the community of Barrab?s were destroyed.*

According to reports, flooding caused traffic problems on the road from Puerto Plata to Playa Dorada after the Mu?oz River overflowed.

There was inner city flooding at Torre Alta II, Los Maestros, Urbanizaci?n General Gregorio Luper?n, Ensanche Dubeau (Los Callejones), La Viara, Las Mercedes and Los Coquitos. In Montellano municipality, waters from the Cam? River damaged several dwellings. Air Force base members led by Colonel Juan Dar?o Tejada Quintana are helping the affected families.

http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/verNoticia.aspx?Id=22982
http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/verNoticia.aspx?Id=22977
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...-plata-afecta-el-hospital-escuelas-y-negocios
http://eldia.com.do/lluvias-producen-desbordamiento-de-rios-e-inundaciones-en-puerto-plata/
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias...s-danos-ocasionados-por-las-lluvias-GL5397091


Rains drench DR
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reports that 20 provinces are on alert due to the oversaturated soils not being able to absorb more of the rainwater. The COE is warning of more flooding and overflowing rivers and streams.

Meanwhile, the national weather service said that the rains would continue in most of the country due to a fixed front system and a trough moving from the Mona Channel from Puerto Rico.
Yellow alerts continue for Mar?a Trinidad S?nchez (Nagua), Espaillat (Moca), La Altagracia (Higuey), Puerto Plata, Montecristi and Dajab?n.

Green alerts are in place for S?nchez Ram?rez (Cotu?), Duarte (San Francisco de Macor?s), El Seibo, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macor?s, San Crist?bal, La Romana, La Vega, Monse?or Nouel (Bonao), Santiago, Greater Santo Domingo, Pedernales and Independencia.

http://www.onamet.gov.do/?param=pronostico-general


Oscar D?Leon at Jet Set in Christmas
Top Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D?Le?n will be performing at the Jet Set Club on Av. Independencia in Santo Domingo on Thursday, 15 December 2016. Listen to his music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLIKWOguklo

For information on upcoming events:
http://www.dr1.com/calendar


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http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/91-Daily-Headline-News

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http://dr1.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/92-Travel-amp-Tourism-News