President Danilo Medina was in San Juan de la Maguana on Sunday, 15 December to inaugurate several public works including a shopping, recreational and cultural center on the site of the former municipal market. He also led the inauguration of the improvements to the dike and water intake at the Mijo and Las Charcas channels, and a daycare center. An estimated RD$1.5 billion was spent on the works carried out by the Public Works Supervisory Office of the Presidency. The new three floor commercial, recreational and cultural center in San Juan consists of movie houses, meeting halls, and offices for business and cultural and scientific entities. It has 60 units distributed over an area of 700 square meters. On a first floor there are 5,700 square meters of construction, on the second 3,300 meters. There is a multi-use hall with capacity for 600 persons seated and 1,000 standing, and 175 vehicle parking spaces. The new center is equipped with air conditioning and audio and video equipment. Its halls already pay tribute to distinguished natives from San Juan de la Maguana, including President Medina himself, Dr. Jose Joaquin Puello and singer Rhina Ramirez.
President Medina also inaugurated the newly built and equipped Regional Diabetes and Nutrition Institute. The new regional hospital cost RD$183 million. The center has 39 beds, including 27 for hospitalization. There is an intensive care unit and emergency area. It is a fully equipped 3,227 square meter construction that directly benefits several communities including El Batey, Las Zanjas, Las Charcas and Sosa.
Medina was accompanied by administrative minister Jose Ramon Peralta, Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo, National Hydraulic Resources Institute director Olgo Santana, and IAD director Radhames Valenzuela.
The improvements at the Mijo and Las Charkas dike and water intake carried out by INDRHI cost RD$70.5 million. The water works will improve irrigation for rice, bean and other crops in the Valley of San Juan.
As part of the investments in San Juan, the government saw to the construction of streets, sidewalks in several San Juan neighborhoods and communities for 21.52 km of road works.