In the first seventy days of his administration, President Hipolito Mejia has made commitments to spend DR$3,875 million (around US$234.8 million) on agriculture, housing and transportation projects; and for the country?s internal debt, including the obligations of the Dominican Electric Corporation (CDE). The sum represents 6.4% of the national budget of around DR$60,000 million. This total does not include DR$2,000 million promised ?to combat poverty,? and an equal sum to ?reactivate the nation?s livestock industry.? Also excluded are the approximately DR$9,000 million to complete public works projects left unfinished by the Fernandez administration, and the special Reserve Bank account which funds the petroleum differential paid to energy production companies. The first such financial commitment was made by Mejia, on August 29, thirteen days after taking office, in which he proposed a DR$500 million expenditure to finance a new fleet of freight and passenger vehicles. Subsequent expenditures have included DR$60 million to the Ministry of Education to launch the new academic year, a DR$390 million contribution toward the DR$3,000 million debt of the CDE, DR$220 million for a tobacco industry subsidy, DR$50 million to restore cacao plantations destroyed by the September, 1998 visit of Hurricane Georges, DR$150 million to complete the construction of 16 aqueducts, and DR$205.7 million to rehabilitate twenty-five of the nation?s public hospitals.
