AZUA - President Luis Abinader broke ground this Sunday to begin construction of 100 new eco-friendly homes in the El Barro community of the Peralta municipality in Azua, which will benefit the same number of families living in extreme poverty; at the same time, he delivered 650 property titles to families who had been claiming that right for 40 years.
The homes are part of the Eco Habitat project, which is being implemented nationwide by the General Directorate of Strategic and Special Projects of the Presidency (Propeep), headed by Minister Neney Cabrera.
Speaking at the event, Minister Cabrera explained that the project will be built on an area of 21,921.00 square meters, donated by the businessman from Azua, Mr. Ángel Darío Ramírez, in whose honor it will bear his name.
He said it will be an exemplary work of social inclusion and human dignity, where the one hundred beneficiary families, who live in extreme poverty, will improve their quality of life, "since they will live in an environmentally friendly roof, which will reduce the effects produced by climate change and where recycled solid waste will be used, which contributes to reducing dependence on construction aggregates from rivers.".
Each home will have 38.5 square meters of construction and will include a porch, living room, dining room and kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a front garden, and a small patio. They will also have potable water, sanitary drainage, access to the road, parking areas, pedestrian walkways, and solar panels to promote the use of renewable energy.
Also speaking at the event was the son of businessman Ángel Darío Ramírez, Héctor Darío Ramírez, who emphasized that the construction of the homes on the land donated by his father fulfills a dream of his father and demonstrates that President Luis Abinader cares about poor people and that there is a change in the way the country is governed.
Delivery of property titles
The president also delivered 650 property titles to the same number of families, which in turn translates into a benefit for more than 2,600 people.
The titled homes are distributed in the sectors Proyecto 4, Sabana Yegua, Isura, La Ciénega, el Rosario and Pueblo Viejo, Kilometer 7 and 8, La Ceiba Nueva, Los Jovillos, El Copey, Nuevo Curro, Cruce del 15 and Tabara Abajo.
In handing over these title certificates, the head of state stated that from today onwards their owners are more in control of their lives and their future, without anyone being able to interfere.
"I have always said it, this is the best policy, the one that recognizes and gives rights to people, distributes wealth, provides security and, above all, draws a new horizon in the lives of thousands of people," President Abinader emphasized.
He stated that having a home, a roof over one's head, and security is something recognized by our laws, "but there is not always a direct relationship to materialize those rights.".
"The goal of having a Dominican Republic where we eliminate the lack of land titles as soon as possible is getting closer every day, because we are making progress every day.".
He stated that this government administration supports and recognizes the people, and that it is a legal recognition by the government, but above all an act of justice, because this was their right.
"Surely at some point in all these years you have heard some politician or leader promise you happiness, well, I promise you justice so that you can seek that happiness," the head of state asserted.
"My congratulations to the families receiving their titles today. Enjoy what is yours and seek, in this new stage of your lives, the well-being and happiness you deserve. And never forget that we are here, a government that belongs to you and will always accompany you on this path, helping to improve your quality of life.".
For his part, the executive director of the State's Permanent Commission for Land Titling, Merido Torres, highlighted that the beneficiaries of land will be able to go to financial entities to seek credit and that they will also have the legal security they deserve.
Torres indicated that with this achievement, the graduates will be able to supply the entire market with basic food basket products such as onions, bananas, watermelon and plantains.
He pointed out that the government assumed the costs of obtaining the titles, since if the beneficiaries had assumed them, they would have invested about 52 million pesos.
Similarly, he announced that 1,400 more property titles will be delivered in December in this same province.
40 years
Meanwhile, the director general of the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD), Francisco García, assured that President Abinader has a great interest in improving the quality of life of all men in the countryside.
Agapito Figueroa, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, emphasized that they had waited 40 years for their dreams to come true, and thanked the president for his commitment.
