Fuel prices remain unchanged, Popular is the most admired company, the first financial innovation hub is launched, the Dominican Republic could sign an agreement with the US to increase air operations, where is President Abinader going this weekend?, the Metro will be suspended from Máximo Gómez to Mamá Tingó starting January 20, COVID-19 deaths have been reported daily, little rain is expected for the weekend, vehicle technical inspections will be put out to tender if the proposal is feasible, and Sisalril prohibits clinics from charging deposits.
Fuel prices remain unchanged
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SMEs (MICM) left fuel prices unchanged for the week of February 12-18, as announced yesterday.
Next week, premium gasoline will be sold at RD$287.60 per gallon and regular gasoline at RD$270.50 per gallon, maintaining their current prices. Meanwhile, premium diesel will be sold at RD$236.10 per gallon and regular diesel at RD$217.60 per gallon.
Popular, the most admired company
Grupo Popular was recognized as the most admired company in the Dominican Republic for the ninth consecutive year, according to a perception surveyconducted by Mercado magazine and the firm Read y Asociados, which evaluates the performance of companies during 2021.
The results of the study, now in its nineteenth year, evaluated 37 categories of local and foreign companies. The most highly rated sectors are finance, industry, and commerce.
First financial innovation hub launched
The Central Bank and the Superintendency of Banking and Securities Markets, Pensions and Insurance, announced the launch of the first Financial Innovation Hub in the Dominican Republic, whose objective is to serve as support, dialogue and consultation for those interested -regulated or not- in the development of technological innovations for the financial sector.
The Hub will facilitate the development of financial and technological innovations, aligning them with the objectives of financial inclusion, market efficiency, consumer protection, and financial stability. It will also provide personalized assistance and information on the regulatory and supervisory framework for banking, payments, insurance, pensions, and securities markets.
The Dominican Republic could sign an agreement with the US to increase air operations
The Dominican Republic will sign an "Open Skies" agreement with the United States, through the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), which seeks to increase air operations of national and foreign airlines to and from any US city without frequency limits.
The president of the Civil Aviation Board, José Ernesto Marte Piantini, who provided the information, stated that negotiations for the signing of the agreement are very advanced.
Where is President Abinader going this weekend?
President Luis Abinader has a busy schedule of activities planned for this weekend in Greater Santo Domingo. At 10:00 a.m. today, Saturday, he will break ground on a multi-purpose building in the Ensanche Isabelita neighborhood of Santo Domingo East.
He will then visit the municipality of Boca Chica to oversee the progress of the Andrés overpass, as well as the road projects being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works on La Ecológica, Hípica, and San Isidro avenues. He will also have lunch with the Development Council at the Golden House Hotel. The President will conclude his Saturday agenda with a land title award ceremony at the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Club.
On Sunday, President Abinader will begin his program of activities with the inauguration of the Winston Churchill Corridor at 11:00 a.m. He will also visit the Nelson Astacio Hospital, currently under construction, in Sabana Perdida. Additionally, he will preside over the graduation ceremony at the Sabana Perdida Sports Complex.
Metro service will be suspended from Máximo Gómez to Mamá Tingó
The Office for the Reorganization of Transportation (Opret) announced that due to the continuation of construction work for the expansion of the elevated stations, it will again suspend service on the Santo Domingo Metro this Sunday from the Máximo Gómez station to Mamá Tingó.
The section will be closed from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Since January 20, deaths from COVID-19 have been reported every day
The last time the Ministry of Public Health reported zero deaths notified in a 24-hour period was in epidemiological bulletin number 672, dated January 19 of this year.
Since then, health authorities have reported 67 deaths due to COVID-19. The day with the highest number of deaths was January 21, when bulletin 674 reported six fatalities.
Little rain expected for the weekend
The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) predicted that weather conditions will be stable for Saturday and Sunday, with minimum temperatures remaining pleasant, mainly during the night and early morning hours.
For Saturday morning, Onamet predicted mostly sunny skies and little cloud cover, while in the afternoon, the wind will increase cloudiness, causing cloudiness with some scattered showers.
They would put out to tender vehicle technical inspection if the proposal is feasible
Once the feasibility studies of the private initiative declared to be of public interest have been carried out, for the execution of a National Vehicle Technical Inspection Program, it will be determined whether a public tender will be called to award the project, which could be won by companies other than the one that proposed said initiative.
This was revealed to Diario Libre by the executive director of the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP), Sigmund Freund, who also reported that developing all the centers that would be required to inspect -as mandated by Law 63-17- the country's vehicle fleet, which exceeds 4.8 million units, demands an approximate investment of US$100 million.
SiSalril prohibits clinics from charging a deposit
TheSuperintendency of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) reminded health service providers that there is a resolution prohibiting the collection of advance payments or deposits to admit a patient to a health center and asked those affected to formally file their complaints with the Directorate of Information and Defense of the Affiliate (DIDA) and that agency.
The regulatory body of the system urged members to immediately contact their insurer or contracted ARS when they arrive at a health center and are required to make a deposit to be admitted, in cases where they present their Family Health Insurance (SFS) membership cards or receive treatment that they consider inhumane.
Sources: Listín Diario and Diario Libre
