SANTO DOMINGO.-The Ministry of Public Works and Communications is carrying out more than 200 projects in 22 provinces of the country, at a cost exceeding 19 billion pesos, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and which are being carried out through the Executing Unit for Projects Financed with External Resources.
More than 1,900 kilometers of road construction, rehabilitation of rural roads and road maintenance have taken place through this Unit, which is directed by engineer Cristian Borrero, whose beginning dates back to 1988.
A press release highlights that a commission led by senior IDB executives recently visited Deligne Ascención, Minister of Public Works, at his offices to express their high level of satisfaction with the planning, execution, and completion of these programs.
During these last few years, Borrero, along with a team of men and women, has traveled the country to initiate, continue and complete these projects, which are framed within the programs of “Sustainable Agroforestry Development, Rehabilitation and Expansion of the Port of Manzanillo, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Road Infrastructure and Climate Resilience of Bridge Infrastructure.
"It's not just about disbursing the money; the IDB also offers support for the implementation of these programs," Borrero explained.
“The Inter-American Development Bank is always with us: from the project's inception to its execution in various areas. They provide consultants, generally for the procurement phase, because we have to comply with the bank's policies. We are not governed by Law 340 on Purchases and Contracts, but we are bound by the bank's policies, which are quite strict.”
Barahona, Elías Piña, San Juan, Azua, Bahoruco, Independencia, Monte Plata, Monte Cristi, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor and Peravia are some of the provinces where Public Works, through this executing unit, has carried out work.
Through these projects, the participation of women has been significantly encouraged, the press document states.
Lucia Cedeño, responsible for project planning and acquisition, points out that, starting from the same unit, more than 80 percent of the technical and professional staff are women.
“For example, we have developed two bidding processes totaling approximately 1,031 kilometers of rural roads. In the first process, called group one, we had a total of 651 kilometers of rural roads. There, we awarded 34 lots, and of those 34 lots, 50% were awarded to women, to companies led by women.”.
