SANTO DOMINGO. The Chamber of Deputies declared the legislation to be urgent and approved two consecutive readings of the General State Budget for 2014. The budget adds up to RD$613 billion and change, with an addenda sent by the Executive Branch and the report from the joint commission which studied the proposal.
It was approved in the first vote 118 to 27 and 7 abstentions. In the second reading it was voted 121 to 24. The majority of the PRD bloc issued a critical vote in favor of the legislation which will be sent to the Executive Branch for its promulgation and enactment.
The debates were plentiful and 17 deputies took part. They gave opinions in favor and against the proposal for more than three hours. Guadalupe Valdez, Jose Paliza, Jose Santana Suriel, Evangelina Sosa, Graciela Fermin, Marino Collante and the spokesmen Ramon Rogelio Genao, Radhames Gonzalez and Ruben Maldonado were part of the legislatiors that took part in the debates.
A proposal to modify articles 2,3,4,7, and 23 presented by Deputy Wellington Arnaud was rejected. Arnaud said those articles had contradictions in the money assigned to Public Health and for the inclusion as a priority the prevention of pregnancies in adolescents.
The Budget contains a salary increase for the medical personnel of the Ministry of Public Health, for the active and pensioned members of the Ministry of Defense and for the National Police and for the agronomists.
In order to comply with these commitments, the Executive changed some things around, reducing by RD$4.7 billion the funding of the Ministry of Public Works; RD$1.1 billion from the Chapter of Administration of Treasury Obligations and RD$1.0 billion from the Ministry of Economy.
He added nearly RD$3.8 billion to the budget of Public Health to cover the salary increases of the doctors; carry out contributions to the Dominican Medical College; current transfers to the Water and Sewer Corporation of Monsignor Nouel, and transfers of capital to the National Institute of Water (INAPA).
In addition, the budget of the Ministry of Defense is increased by RD$1.05 billion for the readjustment of the salaries of its active members and an increase for the pensioned members.
The Ministry of Agriculture received an additional RD$250 million to cover the readjustment of the salaries of the agronomists and farm technicians, and the Supreme Court of Justice received an additional RD$100 million for the strengthening of the Property Jurisdiction.
The Presidency received an increase of RD$115 million for the execution of programs in the provinces of Pedernales, Duarte and Santiago Rodriguez, as well as the reconstruction and improvement of several sections of highways.
The Ministry of the Environment was favored with an increase of RD$500 million for the project of the Dam at Monte Grande, being carried out by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, and the Ministry of Economy received an additional RD$50 million-which were left over after the redistribution-for investment projects.
The Ministry of the Interior and the Police received an increase of RD$1.0 billion to be transferred to the different municipalities.
Other aspects
In the details, the proposal contemplates a transfer of RD$53 billion for the Dominican Corporation of State-owned Electricity Enterprises (CDEEE), 2.6% of GDP for the payment of interest on the public debt, including 0.7% for the Central Bank.
The transfers to the Central Electoral Board, the Public Defender, and the Superior Electoral Tribunal were increased by RD$600, RD$500, RD$100 and RD$50 million each. On the spending side of the budget it is specified that it will reach RD$496,5 billion, equal to 18.1% of GDP. This last percentage is similar to this year's budget.
It was approved in the first vote 118 to 27 and 7 abstentions. In the second reading it was voted 121 to 24. The majority of the PRD bloc issued a critical vote in favor of the legislation which will be sent to the Executive Branch for its promulgation and enactment.
The debates were plentiful and 17 deputies took part. They gave opinions in favor and against the proposal for more than three hours. Guadalupe Valdez, Jose Paliza, Jose Santana Suriel, Evangelina Sosa, Graciela Fermin, Marino Collante and the spokesmen Ramon Rogelio Genao, Radhames Gonzalez and Ruben Maldonado were part of the legislatiors that took part in the debates.
A proposal to modify articles 2,3,4,7, and 23 presented by Deputy Wellington Arnaud was rejected. Arnaud said those articles had contradictions in the money assigned to Public Health and for the inclusion as a priority the prevention of pregnancies in adolescents.
The Budget contains a salary increase for the medical personnel of the Ministry of Public Health, for the active and pensioned members of the Ministry of Defense and for the National Police and for the agronomists.
In order to comply with these commitments, the Executive changed some things around, reducing by RD$4.7 billion the funding of the Ministry of Public Works; RD$1.1 billion from the Chapter of Administration of Treasury Obligations and RD$1.0 billion from the Ministry of Economy.
He added nearly RD$3.8 billion to the budget of Public Health to cover the salary increases of the doctors; carry out contributions to the Dominican Medical College; current transfers to the Water and Sewer Corporation of Monsignor Nouel, and transfers of capital to the National Institute of Water (INAPA).
In addition, the budget of the Ministry of Defense is increased by RD$1.05 billion for the readjustment of the salaries of its active members and an increase for the pensioned members.
The Ministry of Agriculture received an additional RD$250 million to cover the readjustment of the salaries of the agronomists and farm technicians, and the Supreme Court of Justice received an additional RD$100 million for the strengthening of the Property Jurisdiction.
The Presidency received an increase of RD$115 million for the execution of programs in the provinces of Pedernales, Duarte and Santiago Rodriguez, as well as the reconstruction and improvement of several sections of highways.
The Ministry of the Environment was favored with an increase of RD$500 million for the project of the Dam at Monte Grande, being carried out by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, and the Ministry of Economy received an additional RD$50 million-which were left over after the redistribution-for investment projects.
The Ministry of the Interior and the Police received an increase of RD$1.0 billion to be transferred to the different municipalities.
Other aspects
In the details, the proposal contemplates a transfer of RD$53 billion for the Dominican Corporation of State-owned Electricity Enterprises (CDEEE), 2.6% of GDP for the payment of interest on the public debt, including 0.7% for the Central Bank.
The transfers to the Central Electoral Board, the Public Defender, and the Superior Electoral Tribunal were increased by RD$600, RD$500, RD$100 and RD$50 million each. On the spending side of the budget it is specified that it will reach RD$496,5 billion, equal to 18.1% of GDP. This last percentage is similar to this year's budget.