The major economic news in today?s Listing Diario is the announcement that the government has allocated RD$10 billion for subsidies in the 2003 budget. This figure represents 12 percent of the foreseen government revenues for 2003. According to National Budget Director Luis Ernesto Perez Cuevas, the government will subsidize the lowest-income neighborhoods? electricity to the tune of RD$720 million through an official program to reduce blackouts. This week the government will spend RD$15 million in propane gas subsidies, with RD$948 million marked for housing initiatives, including INVI (National Housing Institute), INAVI (National Institute for Assistance and Housing), and the BNV (National Housing Bank). Potable water systems will receive RD$1.6 billion through subsidies to the National Institute for Potable Water and Sewers and the various water corporations of Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Moca and La Romana. Farmers will receive RD$419 million through the Agriculture Bank, RD$215 million through the Dominican Coffee Council, RD$457 million through the programs of the Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE) and a whopping RD$1.868 billion through INDRHI, the National Hydraulic Resources Institute, for irrigation water.