President Balaguer authorized the Australian company, Mineral International Exploration to survey the gold reserves in five eastern communities of the country, where there are also large deposits of silver and copper. The company will also survey the areas of Bonao and Cotui. The whole survey will cover Miches, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Yamasá, and Bayaguana, according to the report of the General Director of Mining, Gerald Marten Ellis.