DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Hundreds of residents and community leaders marched through the streets of La Vega on Sunday, 10 May 2026, to protest the ongoing deforestation and massive earthmoving operations at the Santo Cerro. The demonstration, held under the banner “Defendamos nuestra loma, defendamos nuestro futuro” (Defend our hill, defend our future), sought to draw national attention to what local officials describe as a private-sector “ecocide”.

The march began at the base of the hill (Pie del Santo Cerro) and traversed multiple sectors before concluding in the community of Río Seco. Protesters called for relevant authorities to ensure the prosecution of those responsible for the environmental damage.

This time the concern is high-end real estate development. Reports indicate a private company is clearing large tracts of land to facilitate the construction of luxury villas...