The President announced yesterday a 25% increase in the cost to refill a 100 lb. tank of propane gas. The 100 lb. refill will now cost RD$432.67 (up from RD$325). The 50 lb. tank will now cost RD$216.34 (up from RD$145) and the 25 lb. tank will cost RD$108.76 (up from RD$65). The government also announced it will continue to distribute coupons to subsidize those refilling tanks of 50, 25 or 15 lb. Theoretically, with the coupons, a 50 lb. tank of propane can be purchased for RD$90, a 25 lb. tank for RD$45 and a 15 lb. tank for RD$30. But El Siglo newspaper reporters say after a run by several vendors in Santo Domingo that most were out of coupons when they were visited. News commentators are being critical about the subsidy program. It is being described as a program plagued by inefficiencies that can only lead to administrative corruption, as there are few controls in place. Furthermore, in order to take advantage of the subsidy, housewives need now to exchange their 100 lb. tanks for 50 lb. ones, which require more trips to refill. The government announced gasoline and diesel prices would be adjusted on Saturday when President Mejía is expected to have signed the Petroleum Bill that authorizes the increases. This would be the second fuel price increase of the PRD government in less than six months in government.
