The Senate approved a first reading on a bill for protected areas that would enable the construction of resorts in national parks and protected areas such as the National Park of the East and the Jaragua National Park in the southwest, as reported in El Caribe newspaper. The bill requires another reading for it to pass on to the Chamber of Deputies. There is opposition to the proposed legislation by national environmental groups. Large extensions of park lands have reportedly already been sold to entities the press has not been able to identify.