Former President Danilo Medina inherited a Communications Department of the Presidency with a budget of RD$83.8 million when taking office in 2012. Eight years later, the budget had increased to RD$458 million under Presidency press director Roberto Rodriguez Lamarche. During the Medina administration, thousands of small media operations were created thanks to government funding. The department had a reputation as the propaganda arm of government. The proposed budget for Dicom for 2021 is not known yet.
The new director of the department, Milagros Germán says high spending for communications will continue. In an interview with Fausto Rosario for Acento TV, German said the spending could come down 20%. In the interview, nevertheless, Germán said that President Luis Abinader speaks for his government. She said the Abinader administration also envisions the government ministries and agencies will be more proactive regarding their communication efforts.
Aside from Milagros Germán, the Abinader administration appointed journalist Daniel Garcia Archibald to be in charge of the Information and Press Agency of the Presidency, creating two divisions for Presidency communication.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
Acento TV
7 October 2020