The Presidency sent to the Senate amendments to the National Budget that had already been passed in Congress. The amendments would authorize the placement of sovereign bonds for the financing of the Punta Catalina power plant under construction by a consortium that includes Brazilian firm Odebrecht in Peravia province. The Brazilian export promotion agency would have originally financed the power plant, but the Odebrecht corruption scandal has eliminated this option.
The Presidency also adds RD$1.88 billion to the revenues of the Fondo Patrimonial de las Empresas Reformadas (Fonper), the Empresa de Transmisión Electrica Dominicana (ETED), the Instituto Dominicano de Telecomunicaciones (Indotel).
In a meeting with the president of the Senate, Reinaldo Pared Perez, Minister of Hacienda Donald Guerrero explained the entities would receive additional funds for the programs 911, AgroForestry, Extreme Poverty and Digital Republic of the Presidency. Additional funds are also allotted for wage increases to the members of the Armed Forces, National Police, and other government employees.
Both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies had passed the 2018 National Budget as received from the Presidency. The ruling PLD party is majority in both chambers.
23 November 2017
