In response to several media and social media complaints on the millions the government spends to hire consultants, the Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) published rules called to rationalize the payroll and government spending. The government advisors are hired in addition to the deputy ministers and directors that are already employed in the ministries and government departments.
The Ministry of Public Administration says the new advisor regulations seek to streamline the public payroll and optimize government spending, aligning with the administration’s broader objectives of public sector modernization.
The new measures regulate the number of advisors in Executive Branch agencies. The initiative is outlined in MAP Resolution No. 184-2024.
MAP Minister Darío Castillo Lugo says the resolution establishes a maximum number of advisors for each executive branch entity, based on the number of vice ministries, subdirectorates, or equivalent units within their organizational structure. This measure, he explained, aligns with various legal frameworks, including Law No. 1-12 on the National Development Strategy, Law No. 247-12 on Public Administration, Law No. 41-08 on Public Service, Law No. 423-06 on the Public Sector Budget, and Law 105-13 on Salary Regulation for the Dominican state.
Castillo Lugo emphasized that Law No. 247-12 mandates efficiency and rationality as guiding principles for public administration, ensuring that resource allocation and internal structures align with achieving goals and utilizing state resources prudently.
The resolution stipulates that agencies and entities must submit their proposed structural modifications, including the number of advisors, the reporting high-level official, and the applicable salary scale, to the MAP by 30 June 2024, for approval, in preparation for the 2025 budget drafts.
For institutions that choose to retain advisors beyond the maximum limit established in the resolution after 31 December 2024, these individuals must be reassigned to vacant or duly necessary substantive or transversal positions with budgeted funds, as per Law No. 41-08 on Public Service.
The resolution was issued after the airing of a series of programs on Top Asesores presented on the TV investigative journalism program “Toda la Verdad” by Odalis Castillo on VTV Channel 32 of the Grupo Medios Panorama. The series looks into the number and pay of the advisors at leading government departments and ministries. The wages run from RD$35,000 to more than RD$250,000 a month.
Among the ministries and departments with significant monthly payments for advisors:
Ministry of Agriculture under Limber Cruz has advisors for RD$5.26 million a month.
Carlos Bonilla of the Ministry of Housing pays RD$5.47 million in outside advisors a month.
The director of the Social Cabinet Tony Peña Guaba of the Gabinete de Política Social Presidency has advisors for RD$2.4 million a month.
The director of the Oficina Gubernamental de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (OGTIC) Bartolomé Pujals has advisors for RD$2.18 million a month.
Minister of Industry & Commere Victor Bisono pays RD$2 million in advisors.
Minister of Culture Milagros German has advisors for RD$1.9 million a month.
Jesus (Chu) Vasquez at the Ministry of Interior & Police pays RD$1.82 million a month.
Gloria Reyes of Dirección de Programas Progresando con Solidaridad of the Presidency has hired advisors paying RD$1.5 million a month.
The director of the Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD) Felipe Antonio (Fellito) Subervi has advisors for more than RD$1.24 million a month.
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10 June 2024