President Hipólito Mejía announced the construction of the San Pedro de Macorís-Verón highway. The highway will link tourist areas in southeastern Juan Dolio-Guayacanes with those in eastern Punta Cana-Bavaro. The funds for the 98-kilometer highway have been set aside in the 2001 National Budget. The highway will pick up traffic from the new Autovía del Este that is well advanced. The announcement was made during the government council held in El Seibo. The Mejía government also said that priority will be given to the construction of other main roads in the area, including the roads: Higüey-Otra Banda-Cruce de Bavaro, the Hato-Mayor-Sabana de la Mar-Miches, El Seibo-Miches, Cruce de Higüey-Bayahibe, Cruz de Isleño-Macao, Higüey-Nisibón-Miches, Boca de Yuma-Higüey, Cruce-El Pintao-La Romana roads. During the meeting, President Mejia ordered ministers of Environment, Frank Moya Pons and Tourism, Ramón Bordas to travel to Miches to redefine the possibilities for tourism investment in that area. He also announced the start of a major program to plant fruit trees.