The Leonel Fernández government has begun making payments to contractors that are expected to complete public works begun under the Balaguer government. The Listin Diario reported that some RD$160 million was disbursed to some 800 public works contractors throughout the country. Money will also be provided to initiate new public works, including RD$70 million for Los Alcarrizos public hospital and pluvial drainage on the Malecón (Av. George Washington).
It was also announced that funds will be made available for drainage and the paving of streets in Herrera and others near the Malecón, as well the Avenida Francisco del Rosario Sanchez, bordering the River Ozama between the Juan Pablo Duarte and Francisco del Rosario Sanchez bridges. Also favored is the new terminal for buses being built at Kilometer 10 on the Autopista Duarte at a cost of RD$43 million, now in its final stage of construction.
The minister of public works, Jimmy Duran, said the public works will employ some 80,000 people. In his first two months on the job, he said he has inspected over 300 of the 800 public works under construction to ascertain their construction stage, establish priorities, and the programming of their completion.