DR1 Daily News - Friday, 24 March 2017

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New online systems for government payments 
Foreign investment in films reaches US$58 million in 2016
IDB is assisting Digital Republic 
Agreement with city mayors and garbage dump
Michael Rosanoff to speak on autism 
Digital Energy Mapping wins award
Guzman Ariza law firm compiles investment guide
Human Rights denounces impunity in Constanza
Suspects arrested in the murders of Columbus Lighthouse women
Remains of flood victims in Puerto Plata recovered
Barahona Tourism and Production Fair
Grammy Winning Maroon 5 band at Hard Rock Punta Cana



New online systems for government payments 
The Presidency announced on 23 March 2017 new rules that are going into effect as of 1 April to control and make more transparent government procurement. These implement Decree 15-17 issued on 8 February 2017. The Presidency called this the most transcendent reform of government financial management of recent years. 

During a press conference held yesterday at the Presidential Palace, the directors of Budget and Government Procurement, the National Controller and the National Treasurer provided details to the new government mechanisms.  

The new measures are intended to eliminate discretionary powers of government officers to take on debt and to decide when this is paid, explained the Budget Agency (Digepres) director Luis Reyes. He said now government entities are required to request confirmation that an allotment of the funds has been made for the kind of contract. A certificate confirming the allotment is issued authorizing the contracting of the purchase. After the contract for the specific purchase is registered, this returns to the Digepress for programming the payments. 

As part of the new measures, the full automating of the procurement, budget, treasury, public credit and internal controls will enable the interested parties to follow the government transaction online. This will also avoid arrears in payments to government suppliers. 

Suppliers will be issued a certificate that states the government owes them the contracted sum. Online checks will be possible to ascertain the amount of certificates issued by a government institution, the total debt and the programming of the payments. 

Yokasta Guzman, director of Government Procurement, said this will end the supplier uncertainties as to when they will be paid. She expressed her hope this will increase the number of women government suppliers. At present only 23% of government suppliers are women, and she hopes this can reach 50%. She said this new mechanism would consolidate government procurement as a tool to develop productive sectors. 

Controller General Daniel Omar Caamaño warned that that the operations where a supplier does not fulfill the contract would be rejected. 

National Treasurer Alberto Perdomo said that as part of the new measures, the Single Treasury Account has consolidated 258 government institutions. He said this has resulted in the closing of 3,529 government bank accounts so far, with savings of RD$200 billion for the state. Physical checks are no longer being written. 97% of National Treasury Payments are now by electronic transfer. 

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...creto-15-17-se-elimina-discrecionalidad-gasto


Foreign investment in films reaches US$58 million in 2016
Yvette Marichal, director of the governmental Film Agency (DGCine), says that foreign film companies invested US$58 million in making movies in the Dominican Republic last year. She says this is a big leap from US$14 million invested in 2015. 

Marichal spoke at the opening of the First National Film Congress from 23-24 March 2017, at the Ministry of Foreign Relations conventions center in Santo Domingo.  The event is focusing on developing strategies to strengthen and develop the film industry in the country. The event is open to the general public. 

Marichal highlighted how, six years after the government established a series of incentives to the film sector as part of the Films Law 108-10, the country is beginning to see positive effects of the government’s policies that make the Dominican Republic an attractive place for cinemograph projects.  

Marichal pointed out that there are still areas that need more attention. She noted that the law stipulates that the legislation must be reviewed in ten years and so she urged the sector to stay dynamic and stay on top of the trends in the industry in order to ensure its sustainability. 

Marichal spoke of the success of the Dominican films, highlighting the positive reception that local films enjoyed in important international film festivals.  Films such as “Carpinteros” by José María Cabral at Sundance; “Samba,” by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas at Tribeca and “Candy Town” by Yanillys Pérez in Cannes all received good reviews at their showings. 

The event has the backing of the Vice President Office, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Culture and the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD). 

Former President Leonel Fernandez is set to speak at the closing of the congress. 

http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=526920
http://dgcine.gob.do/web/2017/03/la...-nacional-de-cine-de-la-republica-dominicana/
http://dgcine.gob.do/web/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Agenda-Oficial-Congreso.pdf


IDB is assisting Digital Republic 
A team of technical experts from the Inter-American Development Bank is assisting the Dominican government in the development of its digital government program – Programa República Digital. The program encompasses education, digital government, transparency in government, productivity, job generation, accessibility and inclusion, cybersecurity and access. 

In announcing the visit through 24 March 2017, Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo said that the Digital Republic Program seeks to improve access of citizens to high speed internet, introduce new technologies to improve public services and promote competitiveness, and facilitate the entry of Dominican students into the digital era. 

Meetings took place with the members of the Presidential Digital Commission that is presided by Gustavo Montalvo. Other commission members are Education Minister Andrés Navarro, Superior Education Minister Alejandrina Germán, Industry and Commerce Minister Temístocles Montás, Public Administration Minister Ramón Ventura Camejo, and Armando García, president of the Presidential Information Technologies Office (OPTIC). Also participating are deputy minister of the Presidency Zoraima Cuello, deputy minister of Industry and Commerce Ignacio Mendez and the president of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute Jose del Castillo Saviñón. 

https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias...a-apoyo-tecnico-al-programa-republica-digital


Agreement with city mayors and garbage dump
The city governments of Greater Santo Domingo reached an agreement with Lajun Corporation, in charge of the Duquesa dump and landfill, to resolve the garbage conflict. 

Minister of Environment Francisco Domínguez Brito, who has been mediating in the conflict, made the announcement. He said that the city government agreed to pay arrears and Lajun committed to increase the equipment operating at Duquesa to facilitate the movement of trucks dumping garbage. 

The creating of a commission made up by an international organization and local institutions was agreed on to harmonize a reasonable rate for the solid wastes. Members are city governments of Greater Santo Domingo, Lajun representatives, representatives of the Dominican Municipal League, and the ministries of Environment and Public Health. 

Participating in the meeting were José Luis Asilis, for Lajun; Rafael Hidalgo, Dominican Federation of Municipalities (Fedomu); Onofre Rojas, director of the Commonwealth of Greater Santo Domingo; David Collado, National District; René Polanco, Santo Domingo North; Francisco Peña, Santo Domingo West; Junior Santos, Los Alcarrizos, and Radhamés Castro, de Boca Chica. 

http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/201...lver-conflicto-basura-gran-santo-domingo.html


Michael Rosanoff to speak on autism 
Michael Rosanoff of Autism Speaks in New York City will be speaking to the general public on Wednesday, 29 March 2017 at 10am at the Hotel InterContinental on Av. Winston Churchill. He is visiting as part of the collaboration with the Office of the First Lady to promote awareness, research and parent-training programs. 
Dominican First Lady Candida Montilla in November 2015 had signed an agreement for the country to partner in the Autism Speaks Global Autism Public Health (GAPH) initiative that is coordinated by Rosanoff. 

Through the agreement, the Dominican Republic is participating in field trials of the Parent Skills Training program developed by Autism Speaks and the World Health Organization (WHO).

First Lady Candida Montilla supervises the Integral Disabilities Care Center Program that delivers services to children with developmental disabilities and provides training to parents and caregivers. There are three of these centers located in Santo Domingo, Santiago and San Juan de la Maguana. Others are planned for Santo Domingo East and San Pedro de Macoris. 

https://primeradama.gob.do/primera-dama-invita-a-conferencia-de-autism-speaks-sobre-salud-publica/
https://www.autismspeaks.org/scienc...aks-forges-new-partnership-dominican-republic


Digital Energy Mapping wins award
The National Energy Commission (CNE) - National Energy Sector Geographical Information System won the award for the Most Innovative Project of the Region 2017 during the second edition of the Clean Energy Central America and Caribbean Congress held in Panama. 

The director of the CNE, Juan Rodríguez Nina spoke during the opening panel of the congress in which over 250 energy professionals had gathered to discuss regional norms and how to establish long term energy infrastructure. He also addressed the importance of achieving self-sustainability in energy production in the Caribbean islands by taking advantage of renewable energy sources. 

The winning innovation project was developed by staff at the CNE. It provides real-time access to georeferenced information on the energy sector, including generation centers, transmission lines, substations, fuel stations, energy concessions, solar and wind potential maps, among other data. 

http://mapas.cne.gob.do/
http://www.recamweek.com/


Guzman Ariza law firm compiles investment guide
The Dominican law firm, Guzman Ariza, has an investment guide that is now available for consultations online. Lawyer Fabio Guzman supervised the editing of the information that is up to date through 31 December 2016. Thousands of questions are answered in the guide. 

A Legal Guide to Investing in the Dominican Republic can be downloaded at http://www.drlawyer.com/publication/

Guzman Ariza is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2017. 


Human Rights denounces impunity in Constanza
Manuel María Mercedes of the National Commission of Human Rights denounced the complicity of judicial authorities and the police in Constanza regarding drug traffickers. 

Mercedes demanded that the Superior Council of the Public Ministry, the director of the National Police and the Judicial Branch Council to focus on Constanza and conduct a thorough investigation on practices of authorities in that jurisdiction. 

It is alleged that the authorities purposefully misconstrue or poorly interpret the law in order to protect drug traffickers.  As a result, cases against drug traffickers are deemed to be weak and rarely are drug traffickers convicted in the courts.  Mercedes accused the judicial system operating in Constanza to be nothing more than an enabler of drug trafficking.  

Mercedes said if the Superior Council of the Public Ministry, National Police director and the Judicial Branch Council do not take action, he would release to the general public, the names of those involved in the scheme.  


Suspects arrested in the murders of Columbus Lighthouse women
The Police announced the arrest of several persons suspected of being involved in the murders of several women whose bodies were found this year in an area around of the Faro a Colon. 

The suspects arrested are:
25-year old Wellington Encarnación Medina (a) Rafelin, accused of the death of 16-year old Amarfis de Oleo Martínez in February. He was ordered to a year in preventive custody. 

Also, former army corporal Florencio Martín Tiburcio Núñez was detained and is suspected to have been involved in the death of 13-year old Vianela Reynoso Amparo. Her body was found in a garbage dump in Villa Duarte, in the area of the Columbus Lighthouse. Tiburcio is being investigated for his involvement in the death of 29-year old Isabela Valdez Valdez, whose body was found on Ave. Ecológica, in Santo Domingo East. 

Also arrested was 34-year old Daniel Camilo Frías Willmore who admitted to the beating death of 23-year old Caren Caterin Figueroa Henríquez, whose body was found near the Faro a Colón. Frías said he fatally struck the woman in the head with a rock during a heated argument over a payment of RD$500. 

The Police also have arrested 27-year old Manuel Pérez Hernández and 27-year old José Arismendy Canela Feliz, who admitted to the murder of 21-year old Yan Carlos Nova on 17 March, on the Avenida Estados Unidos, which faces the Faro a Colon. 

https://www.metrord.do/do/santo-domingo/2017/03/22/pn-dice-apreso-asesinos-mujeres-faro-colon.html
http://www.listindiario.com/la-repu...cente-y-lanzar-cadaver-cerca-del-faro-a-colon

Remains of flood victims in Puerto Plata recovered
Rescue authorities identified as 40-year old Micaela Albania Carrera Marte and 19 year old Carlos Eduards Salazar those who were drowned in flood waters while attempting to cross the Los Domínguez River in Puerto Plata. 

The woman was driving a Hyundai Tucson, which was property of her husband, German citizen Patrick Knoerzer, who was out of the country when the tragedy occurred. She resided in El Choco in Sosua. Salazar was a resident in Los Coquitos. 

While it originally believed they were traveling with a child, the authorities later said this was not true. 

http://elnacional.com.do/identifican-ocupantes-yipeta-arrastrada-por-crecida-de-rio-en-puerto-plata/

Barahona Tourism and Production Fair
The Barahona Tourism and Production Cluster is hosting a trade show and tourism fair at the Universidad Católica de Barahona (Ucateba) this weekend. Manufacturers, farm ventures and tourism companies are participating in the Discover Barahona event. 

On Sunday, 26 March, there will be a tour of new farm projects in the area, including: Hortaliza La Guazara, Granja La Cabrita in Fundación, Centro de Producción Piscícola La Bombita, Granja de Pollos Palo Alto and la Granja de Conejos Jaquimeyes.

Grammy Winning Maroon 5 band at Hard Rock Punta Cana
The pop-rock band Maroon 5 will be performing at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana on Saturday, 9 September. They will be singing their best hits mixed with new tracks from their recent album “V”. 

Among their best hits are: “This Love”, “She Will Be Loved”, “Makes Me Wonder”, “Moves Like Jagger”, “Payphone” and “One More Night.” The band has sold over 30 million albums and 48 million singles. The concert is a SD Concerts production.

Tickets go on sale as of Monday, 3 April 2017 on http://www.tuboleta.com.do and http://www.ticketexpress.com.do and at Tiendas La Sirena, Supermercados Pola. 

Listen to their hit “Sugar”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09R8_2nJtjg


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http://www.dr1.com/calendar


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