The 13th Christmas wage for public employees had been included in the 2012 National Budget for all central, decentralized, autonomous government institutions, but with the money missing by the year’s end, legislators had to approve a loan to make up for the deficit. The PLD holds the majority in government, including congress and city governments, with the exception of the Dominican Municipal League, primarily a stronghold of a faction of the members of the PRSC party, a long-time PLD political ally. The bill authorizes the governmental Banco de Reservas to lend up to RD$1 billion to city governments and state decentralized and autonomous entities for paying the 13th wage.
Senator Tommy Galan, who chairs the Senate treasury commission, said that the senators also approved a US$130 million loan granted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for government welfare programs.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/12/5/457639/Es-ley-prestamo-RD1000-millones-regalia-alcaldias