The Senate unanimously passed the National Budget for a total of RD$38,749 million. The budget now moves on to the Chamber of Deputies, where approval is also expected as per negotiations that have taken place. The senators modified the bill introduced by the Presidency, reducing RD$356.8 million from the budget allotted to the ministries of education and agriculture in order to assign RD$150 million for the completion of the high tech medical center Plaza de la Salud, RD$120 million more for the Judicial Branch budget, RD$24 million more for the Chamber of Deputies budget, and RD$13 million for the Chamber of Accounts.During the Monday session, the Senate also passed the modification to the international convention on civil responsibility for damages as a result of petroleum contamination, the Managua convention that introduces reforms to the charter of the Organization of American States. Likewise, it passed the framework for the convention of the United Nations on climate changes. And a bill whereby the members of the Armed Forces and the Police will receive a pension equal to 80% of their salary when retired.
