The Presidency submitted the 2024 National Budget Bill to the Chamber of Congress early to give legislators ample time to study the bill. The bill calls for RD$1.37 trillion in spending, 18.5% of the Gross Domestic Product. Revenues are estimated at RD$1.14 trillion, or 15.4% of GDP.
The National Budget Office (Digepres) that prepared the draft highlights there are funds to continue police reform, and investments with high social impact. There are funds to continue infrastructure works.
Jose Rijo Presbot, director of the National Budget Office, added that the total consolidated expenses of the National General Government (GGN) would be RD$1.45 trillion. This difference in the budget accounts for the net flows of transfers between different areas of the public sector. Rijo explained that this includes the total allotted to the central government, but also those resources directed to Non-Financial Autonomous and Decentralized Organizations and Public Social Security Institutions.
In the 2024 budget, the Santiago Monorail is allotted RD$21.03 billion. RD$13.02 billion is allocated for the extension of the Second Line of the Santo Domingo Metro.
Billions are allocated to the roadworks in the northwestern border provinces. The works at the Port of Manzanillo will continue, as stipulated in the 2024 budget. Likewise, the budget provides more funds for the improvements to the Duarte highway, and the roadworks in the Valdesia and Enriquillo regions to improve the connectivity of Pedernales with the rest of the country.
Education venues will receive RD$9.43 billion; the repair and remodeling of hospitals, RD$4.20 billion; the construction and rehabilitation of bridges, highways and local roads with RD$14.34 billion.
The 2024 budget allocates 4% of the GDP to early, elementary and secondary public education, amounting to RD$297.04 billion.
Read more in Spanish:
Digepres
1 October 2023