As the keynote speaker during the opening of Expo Cibao on Wednesday 16 September 2015, President Danilo Medina made a 30-minute speech highlighting that a lot of things that had never been done before had been achieved during his administration. Using the occasion of the annual exhibition of products and services in Santiago to promote his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election, Medina spoke of the increased spending on education, health and safety through the 911 and mixed patrols on highways.
He also announced that a 10,000-unit housing complex would be built in Santiago during his next term, on the same lines as Juan Bosch City under construction in Santo Domingo, also for 10,000 families.
Despite the economic woes affecting Latin America, Medina said that the DR economy would grow by 6% this year, with record figures for direct foreign investment. He mentioned that the responsible management of government finances has also led to a substantial reduction of the deficit and keeping economic growth with one of the lowest inflation rates in Dominican history.
He said that his government programs have helped more than 580,000 Dominicans out of poverty, many of them farmers. He said that his “surprise” visits to rural areas have resulted in the creation of 178,000 new direct and indirect jobs. Medina added that the governmental Banco Agricola has lent farmers more than RD$43 billion, more than the RD$40 billion of his campaign promise, adding that the interest rate on agriculture loans has dropped from 18 to 12%.
The President said his government had aimed to create 400,000 jobs in four years and has already created 354,000 formal jobs, and that he expects to end his term having created 471,200 new jobs.
He said that there are overall growth statistics showing for tourism, construction, agribusiness, farming, manufacture, commerce, export free zones, finances, telecoms services, remittances and mining. “Definitely, all sectors of the economy are showing positive results,” he stated.
President Medina said that the government was tackling the electricity problem and would provide a conclusive solution by expanding generation capacity, diversifying the energy matrix, reducing losses and improving management. He cited the installation of two power plants at Punta Catalina in Peravia (Bani) to generate 768 megawatts, to ensure reliable power service at competitive prices.
He commented that tax collections from July 2012 to July 2015 have showed an increase of RD$11 billion, thanks to the incorporation of 420,000 new clients.
He spoke of the improvements in schools that are guaranteeing that all children, without exception, receive a quality education in public schools. He announced that by the end of the year one million children will have enrolled in schools with the extended timetable. “When that new generation of Dominicans reaches their productive age and can develop all their capacities, then we will really know what this education revolution has meant,” said the President.
He also stressed that illiteracy would soon be eliminated from the country, as more than 800,000 adults have learned to read and write, surpassing the government’s original goals.
When it comes to public health, Medina spoke of the elimination of all charges in public hospitals. He announced that 75% of poor people were already protected by the governmental National Health Insurance (Senasa), or more than 3.4 million insured. The Preisdent also mentioned the reconstruction of 56 hospitals nationwide.
http://acento.com.do/2015/politica/8284622-danilo-aprovecha-invitacion-a-expo-cibao-para-pronunciar-discurso-reeleccionista/
Medina afirma RD crece este año 6% con la inflación más baja de la historia
http://acento.com.do/2015/politica/8284622-danilo-aprovecha-invitacion-a-expo-cibao-para-pronunciar-discurso-reeleccionista/