The priority areas highlighted include police reform, addressing the urgent needs of the health sector, investments in drinking water, and the Central American and Caribbean Games.
SANTO DOMINGO. -The Executive Branch , through the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the General Directorate of Budget, submitted to the National Congress the draft General State Budget Law 2026, which amounts to 1 trillion 744 billion pesos, equivalent to 20.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
The budget project was delivered via the General Secretariat of the Chamber of Deputies, by the Director General of Budget José Rijo Presbot, complying with the provisions of article 233 of the Constitution of the Republic, and article 34 of the Organic Budget Law for the Public Sector No. 423-06 and in compliance with the primary spending fiscal rule established by Law No. 35-24 on Fiscal Responsibility of State Institutions.
A press release explains that in terms of fiscal management , revenues are projected at RD$1,342,258.2 million (15.5% of GDP), while total expenses amount to RD$1,622,833.4 million (18.7% of GDP).
"These resources will be allocated to the government's strategic priorities, such as maintaining macroeconomic stability, boosting economic growth, strengthening the productivity and competitiveness of the productive sectors, ensuring access to quality essential services, and promoting the well-being of the most vulnerable sectors of the Dominican population," he notes.
Economic reactivation through investment
The initiative reinforces the economic reactivation policy through public investment, which will amount to RD$215,284.7 million (2.5% of GDP), an amount higher than the initial 2025 budget, and includes flagship projects that seek to improve the connectivity and efficiency of the transport system, as well as impact strategic sectors such as tourism and agriculture, in line with the objectives set out in the Meta RD 2036 Plan aimed at doubling the GDP of the Dominican Republic.
“The project reaffirms the Government’s commitment to achieving fiscal results that will allow, within a reasonable timeframe, a balance in public finances, maintaining fiscal sustainability, efficiently supporting private initiatives, and allocating resources to priority areas to improve the quality of life for all Dominicans,” the Executive Branch states in its letter submitting the Budget.
For next year, the project proposes a fiscal deficit of just 3.2% of GDP, equivalent to RD$280,575.3 million, maintaining the fiscal consolidation of previous years and ensuring the continuity of the State's priority programs, while reaffirming the commitment to discipline in public finances.
The 2026 spending policy is designed to respond to the 17 strategic priorities of the 2025-2028 National Multi-Year Public Sector Plan. In this sense, important social measures, such as resources for police reform, addressing the urgent needs of the health sector, investments in drinking water, and the Central American and Caribbean Games , form part of the cornerstone of this formulation.
The 2026 General State Budget offers a detailed analysis of cross-cutting policies, fundamental to guaranteeing rights and reducing inequalities, such as climate change, gender, disability and investment in girls, boys and adolescents.
