Residents of the Pedro Garc\u00eda municipal district, situated on the slopes of the Cordillera Septentrional, took to the streets on 11 May 2026 to voice a firm rejection of potential mining exploitation in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demonstration, characterized by a cross-generational turnout of children, youth, and the elderly, moved through the streets of the community located along the highway connecting Santiago and Puerto Plata. Protesters carried banners with slogans such as “The mountain range is not for sale” and “Water is worth more than gold,” emphasizing the vital importance of the area’s river systems and natural landscapes to their local identity and economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broad community support
The march saw unified backing from several key local organizations and leaders, including:
\u2022 The Association for the Development of Pedro Garc\u00eda
\u2022 Local religious institutions and neighborhood councils (juntas de vecinos)
\u2022 Community leaders Roberto, Angel, and Dangiro Dom\u00ednguez
\u2022 Sports clubs and various civic groups<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Municipal Director Jaudith Rodr\u00edguez joined the protesters, framing the defense of the mountains as a non-partisan movement essential for the survival of the local ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This struggle is about unity and hope for our people,” Rodr\u00edguez stated. “It is a call for everyone to empower themselves in defense of our hills to ensure that dozens of water sources and thousands of tasks (tareas) of arable land do not disappear.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security and future actions
The National Police maintained a visible presence throughout the event, reporting that the proceedings concluded in complete order without incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This protest serves as a precursor to a larger demonstration scheduled for Sunday, 24 May 2026. Organized by the civic and peasant movement “Unidos somos m\u00e1s” (United We Are More) alongside the local Catholic Church, the upcoming march is set to begin at the Monumento a los H\u00e9roes de la Restauraci\u00f3n in Santiago, signaling an escalation of the advocacy efforts to a provincial level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n