The president of Plan Renove, Fabio Ruiz, told those who had filled out forms to get one of the 100,000 tax-exempt and soft-term financed motorcycles the Mejia administration has promised that the bikes would only be distributed if President Hipolito Mejia is re-elected. The president of the transport area commando of the PRD, Antonio Marte, said the project seeks to attract thousands of votes for Mejia?s re-election campaign. Ruiz explained that President Mejia is the only electoral candidate to back this program.
Ruiz also announced the government would issue free drivers licenses to the motorcyclists, releasing them from the RD$350 fee. He also said the government would distribute security jackets and helmets to the motorcyclists for free. Ruiz defended the programs to benefit the motorcyclists: ?If delivering a motorcycle to a poor motorcyclist is using the state resources, then I am using them, because this money is not for my pocket, nor for the pocket of the President.?
Criticizing the so-called Renovito program, PRSC Presidential candidate Eduardo Estrella said that if the government had not increased the price of fuel so greatly, the ?motoconchistas? (taxis on motorcycles) would have been able to buy three motorcycles in that year with the money spent on fuel.
Motorcyclists are the No. 1 cause of death on the roads and traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic.