SANTO DOMINGO.-The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) began operations this Friday for the "My Clean Highway" program, which consists of removing waste, including plastics, and clearing spaces in the surroundings of highways and roads.
The inauguration took place at an event held at the tollbooth on the November 6th highway, with the attendance of the mayors of Santo Domingo Oeste and San Cristóbal, as well as the director of Digesett, businessmen, community leaders, among others.
The Minister of Public Works, Deligne Ascención, highlighted that the institution's personnel and equipment that will take part in the program include 15 brigades made up of 150 day laborers, as well as two backhoe loaders, two mini loaders, two 16 cubic meter trucks, six 3 cubic meter trucks, two gyratory tractors and a brush cutter.
“We haven’t yet reached the levels we need to reach, but we are making progress; weed control, pruning, and the condition of the roads have improved,” he explained.
Ascención added that the efforts made through Public Works are thwarted when dozens of makeshift dumps are placed around the marginal roads that give access to Greater Santo Domingo, and this institution is in charge of collecting some 75 tons of solid waste every week, which is unsustainable.
Several organizations attended the inauguration. (External source).
He announced that dozens of mayors from different municipalities, and directors of municipal districts who took office this Wednesday the 24th, will participate in the cleaning of the highways and main roads, within the permanent maintenance plans for these.
“The garbage around the highways clogs the gutters and the sewers, and deteriorates the roads. When the water has nowhere to run, it runs through the pavement or asphalt, and it comes loose. Every day we have many places where we are working, since it is not a problem of asphalt, but of the obstruction of where the water should run,” he stated.
He said that the My Clean Highway program should be permanent until the culture of not throwing waste on the roads changes.
“The municipalities surrounding this road will contribute by placing containers or collaborating with you (the citizens) in the collection so that residents do not feel the need to throw garbage in the road,” he noted.
The official explained that, with the collaboration of neighborhood associations, businesses, and churches, these roads will have a different look from now on.
Ascención said that the program fulfills President Luis Abinader's desire to successfully complete his term in office, and that it is based on Law 687-82 and its amendments, which mandates the maintenance of the country's highways and main roads.
Deputy Minister Luis Bastardo said that the My Clean Highway program aims to create a culture of public hygiene on the country's main roads.
“My Clean Highway is an option that we will lead together with the municipal authorities, the neighborhood associations, the business owners, property owners who are along our roads with them coordinating so that they take care of the maintenance of their frontage.”.
He explained that bus and truck drivers' unions also play a crucial role in preventing waste from being thrown onto the tracks.
In an initial survey of 20 kilometers of road along the 6 de Noviembre highway, 19 makeshift dumps were found, he said.
“We urge everyone to be mindful of not littering on our roads. Let's take care of the environment; by doing so, we are taking care of ourselves, the water sources, and you.” Braulio Portes, pastor of the first church of Christianization, said that this initiative from the Ministry of Public Works motivates all mayors to embrace this ideal, to put it into their hearts and minds, and to share it with their communities, since we are all responsible for keeping these roads in good condition.
“A clean highway means there will be very few accidents and fewer problems, hopefully no accidents at all so that we can all be preserved,” he said.
Rafael Valentín, a representative of the business sector, emphasized that “this highway (the 6 de Noviembre) costs millions of dollars and we citizens, due to a lack of education, do not take care of it. This road is our heart; it is what takes the sick to the hospital easily; it is what gives life to all of us business owners.”.
He added that "this highway belongs to us and we must support and integrate ourselves into this initiative, which is historic for the nation.".
“My Clean Highway” is an alliance of the MOPC with the municipalities located around the main highways and roads, and will have the participation of institutions such as the Dominican Municipal League, the Dominican Federation of Municipalities (FEDOMU) and the Dominican Federation of Municipal Districts (FEDODIM).
The new mayors who will participate in the opening of “My Clean Highway” are Dío Astacio, from Santo Domingo East; Francisco Peña, from Santo Domingo West; Junior Santos, from Los Alcarrizos; Luis Pavolo, from Villa Altagracia; Pedro Contreras, from Piedra Blanca; Raymundo Ortiz Díaz, from San Pedro de Macorís; Miguel Ángel Valera, from Sabana Grande de Palenque; Nelson de la Rosa, from San Cristóbal, among others.
Also present were the newly sworn-in district directors Nelson Brito, from Quita Sueño; Juan Manuel Cerón, from El Carril; Mirtha Elena Pérez, from La Guáyiga; Nelson Marte, honorary advisor to the MOPC, among others.
