The Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural, the government body in charge of cultural heritage, announced the start of Operation Visual Image Recovery in the Historical Center of Santo Domingo. Cesar Ivan Feris, the DR’s former ambassador to the Vatican and one of the country’s most respected restoration architects is overseeing the program. The OPC will spruce up buildings, plazas, parks and streets working in coordination with neighborhood groups, boards, the Municipality of Santo Domingo, the Armed Forces, the National Police, Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The program starts at Arzobispo Meriño street, between Vicente Celestino Duarte and Emiliano Tejera streets. The government will be painting houses, applying new white wash, repairing doors and windows, picking up garbage, and planting trees and improving greenery in the area.