The World Bank is waiting for US$110 million in matching funds from the DR government. Listín Diario reports that US$329 million in financing has been committed by the World Bank for ten development projects. Marco Mantovanelli, the DR representative for the World Bank, says one of the organization’s greatest concerns is the renovation of the electricity distribution networks, a project that continues suspended. Meanwhile, a water and sanitation project in Puerto Plata could lose its World Bank funding if it isn’t finalized by October 31. The pilot project is pending approval in Congress. It was passed six month ago by the Senate but a wording error made by the government has stalled its progress. The document should say “Coraplat” instead of “INAPA”. Mantovanelli of the World Bank says “the problem is that if this project isn’t approved in Congress by October 31, it is lost. The World Bank cannot extend it because it was initially approved in April, 2000.”
