Announces permanent working group with transport operators to mitigate fuel price increases and prevent fare hikes
SANTO DOMINGO– President Luis Abinader led a meeting yesterday, Monday, with representatives of the transportation sector, in which the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, announced the creation of a permanent working group and assured that they will work “minute by minute and day by day” to mitigate the impact of the rise in fuel prices and prevent increases in the cost of fares for the benefit of Dominicans.
After concluding a meeting with transport unions held in the Green Room of the National Palace, Minister Sanz Lovatón, accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, reported that, in order to sustain these measures and guarantee that the increases in fuel prices are not passed on to the population, the authorities estimate an additional investment of close to RD$800 million, with the purpose of protecting the economy of Dominican families and maintaining the stability of the transport service at the national level.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and SMEs described the meeting as a constructive and fruitful dialogue between the Government and the main representatives of the transport sector.
Several transport business owners were present at the meeting. (External source).
He also explained that the meeting included an assessment of recent fuel price trends and their potential impact on public transportation operations and citizens' finances. In this regard, he indicated that the government decided to strengthen economic support mechanisms for the sector to prevent fare increases and ensure that users continue to receive service without undue financial burdens.
Sanz Lovatón emphasized that President Abinader has given precise instructions to maintain an open and permanent channel of communication with transportation organizations, in order to closely monitor the evolution of the situation and adopt timely measures to preserve the stability of the sector.
He also explained that the permanent working group agreed upon during the meeting will serve to continuously monitor the commitments made between both parties, as well as to discuss alternatives aimed at addressing the challenges arising from the behavior of international fuel markets.
He noted that the Government will continue to evaluate different support actions and economic compensation mechanisms that contribute to maintaining the stability of public transport and prevent any variation in fuel prices from directly impacting users.
The meeting was attended by Ricardo de los Santos, president of Fenatrado; Antonio Marte and Jean Carlo Marte, of Conatra; Juan Hubieres and Antonio Brito, of Fenatrano; Santiago Zamora, president of Codotatur and of the Regional Federation of Workers and Transportation of the municipality of Boca Chica; William Pérez Figuereo, president of CNTU; Alfredo Pulinario Mariot, president of Mochotran; Arsenio Quevedo and Yovanni Valenzuela, of Unatrafin; Reynaldo Pérez Sánchez, president of UNET; Eddy Francisco Sánchez, president of Fenatrapego; Oscar Domínguez, president of Fentrauni; Gervasio de la Rosa, president of Fenatrarreno; Nazario de los Santos Reyes and Antonio del Carmen Beras, of the El Progreso Federation; Mario Díaz, president of FENATTRANSC, and Pedro Gómez, president of Fenacho, among other leaders.
