The press reported Congress and government reached a consensus for the passing of the National Budget. The RD$38,749 million budget submitted by the Presidency would be passed on Monday by the Senate. Three days later, the Chamber of Deputies would approve it. The congressmen are adding a special allotment of RD$150 million to finish construction at the Plaza de la Salud. The budget allotted to the Chamber of Deputies will be increased RD$24 million to RD$289 million in 1998. Congressmen also added chapters to benefit the Instituto Dermatólogico, Corazones Unidos, parrishes, social clubs, the Colegio Dominicano de Periodistas, vocational schools, the firemen, and associations of students, including the Federación de Estudiantes Dominicanos. In addition, the budget of the Judicial Branch was increased RD$120 million during the congress and government officer talks.
