The Senate approved loans worth US$238 million yesterday, with the funds destined for the construction of new water facilities for Santiago de los Caballeros, San Francisco de Macor?s, La Romana and San Crist?bal. The funds are being facilitated by HSBC Bank PLC, Cooperative Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleen Bank, Natexis Banques Popularies, and ABN Amro Bank ? all commercial banks of Europe. The water works of Santiago de los Caballeros will be expanded to accommodate new filtration equipment and a new water treatment plant for sewage. Diario Libre newspaper reports that with the approval, the Senate also received three new petitions from the Executive Branch for further loans valuing US$225.9 million.