La Barquita, a large slum on the banks of the Ozama River in Santo Domingo East became a coveted jewel on 8 September when President Danilo Medina told a community meeting that he was going to rebuild the barrio. Now perhaps a dozen companies, according to Diario Libre, are lining up to bid for the government contracts to rebuild the area. ATA-Opret is just the latest to show its plans for the urban renewal project to Father Gregorio Alegria, the parish priest who heads the commission discussing housing solutions for the barrio. All proposals will be taken to President Medina for his final decision. The project seeks to provide housing, sanitation facilities and education for the 1,200 families, some 5,000 residents of the area, long a breeding ground for cholera, dengue and malaria.