DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

In a swift governmental response to widespread damage, President Luis Abinader has enacted Decrees 626-25 and 627-25, placing 14 provinces and several other areas of the country under a state of emergency following the passing of Tropical Storm Melissa.

The key objective of the emergency declaration is to expedite and facilitate urgent government purchases and contracts essential for the immediate relief, repair, and reconstruction efforts. The declaration of emergency reduces the requirements needed for procurement transactions.

Decree 626-25 officially classifies the scale of the destruction caused by the tropical storm as regional damage.

Crucially, Decree 627-25 establishes a national emergency status for all procurement and contracting of goods, services, and works by state institutions. This legislative measure bypasses standard procedures to quickly channel...