Luis Ernesto Perez Cuevas, director of the National Budget Office (ONAPRES), announced the government has reduced its income projections for 2001 by RD$5,000 million. Originally, the government had expected to reap RD$65,000 million, but it now says prospects are for RD$60,000 million. He said the government is reducing budgets for employee expense accounts, supplies and subsidies including a 25% reduction in the propane gas subsidy. Pedro Silverio of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra economic research center, Cenantillas, forecasts that government income will more likely be closer to RD$55,000 million.
