The Presidential Commission for Provincial Development Support, FONVIVIENDA and Familia Feliz will be merged with the Ministry of Housing.
SANTO DOMINGO. – With a proposal projected to generate savings of RD$25 billion, President Luis Abinader yesterday led the presentation of a second reform for the unification of ministries and other state institutions, with the aim of continuing the restructuring and rationalization of the public administration.
The proposal, revealed in "La Semanal con la Prensa," also seeks to eliminate redundancies in public institutions, in order to be more efficient, coherent, and more aligned with government priorities.
Abinader explained that most of the proposals will go to the National Congress for approval, but from an economic point of view, "the necessary savings can be made.".
He recalled that the first unifications and suppressions carried out during his term were the merger of the Oisoe and the INVI, (now the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings), the CEA and the Corde, and the elimination of the Office of the First Lady and Procomunidad.
Sigmund Freund, Minister of Public Administration. (External source).
Goals
The four objectives of this second reform are: the optimization of resources to free up financial and human resources, redirecting them towards critical areas such as health, education and citizen security; improving coordination to reduce dispersion and improve work between agencies; eliminating redundancies by suppressing entities whose reason for being no longer exists or can be assumed by other agencies; and finally, the reduction of bureaucracy in favor of a simpler state structure and a more agile and effective administration.
Mescyt and Minerd
Freund Mescyt ) and Education ( Minerd ).
This aims to optimize resources and improve the efficiency of educational spending, with a more strategic and comprehensive distribution of resources, strengthening educational quality and reducing costs.
It also aims to integrate the education system, avoiding fragmentation between levels (initial, basic, secondary, higher), which will reduce costs and increase coherence in actions to improve learning.
Similarly, the aim is to achieve an improvement in the quality of education, facilitating a comprehensive approach to education, from basic to higher education, aligning curricula with the demands of the labor market.
Strengthening the national education system is another goal of this merger, aligning education with the country's priorities in science and technology, promoting regional development and equity in the distribution of resources.
Finally, regarding improvements in education policy: the merger facilitates the development of joint policies to address educational and scientific challenges, improving access to education and strengthening the monitoring of student progress and research.
As for the science and technology component of Mescyt, it will be sent to another entity that will dedicate its efforts to these aspects, including innovation actions.
Mepyd and Hacienda
The merger of the Ministries of Finance and Economy, Planning and Development will result in the Ministry of Finance and Economy, to improve coordination and efficiency in public management.
In addition, measures will be implemented to optimize support areas such as human resources, finance, purchasing, legal, security and communication.
Mapfre
The Administrative Ministry of the Presidency will be abolished and transformed into an Administrative Secretariat under the Presidency, to achieve a single coordination in all cross-cutting and support areas, improving human resources, finances and communications.
IAD and Agriculture
The Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) will be absorbed by the Ministry of Agriculture, eliminating redundancies and ensuring the monitoring of agricultural settlements.
National Council for Agricultural Research
Similarly, the National Council for Agricultural Research will be integrated into the Dominican Institute of Agricultural Investment.
ADESS
The Social Subsidies Administrator (ADESS) will merge with the Supérate program to improve coordination and increase efficiency in resource management.
Presidential Commission for Support to Provincial Development, Fonvivienda and Happy Family
The Presidential Commission for Provincial Development Support, FONVIVIENDA and Familia Feliz will merge with the Ministry of Housing, achieving greater centralization and coordination in the works managed.
Economic Dining Halls
Similarly, the Economic Dining Halls will be integrated into the Presidential Plan Against Poverty in order to improve coordination and efficiency, given that both institutions provide similar services to the population.
National Maritime Affairs Authority
Likewise, the National Maritime Affairs Authority will merge with the National Aquarium to form the Oceanographic Institute , with the aim of strengthening coordination and improving efficiency in the management of marine and coastal resources.
Strategic eliminations
Among these eliminations are the Savings Bank for Workers and Pawnshop, the Sectoral Commission for the Reform and Modernization of the Agricultural Sector, the Dominican Development Council Abroad ( Condex ), the National Council for Population and Family, and the Presidential Commission for Modernization and Port Security.
Also, the Business Commission for Mortgage Development and Trusts, the International Advisory Commission on Science and Technology, and the National Directorate for the Promotion and Development of Handicrafts (Fondearte).
Cost containment measures
For his part, the Minister of Finance, José Manuel (Jochi) Vicente, stated that among these measures is the streamlining of the use of state advertising, concentrating it only in the institutions that should use advertising and giving it an educational and informative content.
Also, the prohibition of the purchase of non-utility vehicles, the prohibition of expenses intended for general events and celebrations of the anniversaries of the institutions, and the prohibition of printing institutional reports, which from now on will be digital.
Other measures include freezing the number of public employees in each institution at the levels of August 2024.
The hiring of police officers, military personnel, medical staff, and teaching staff is exempt from this provision. The Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) may exceptionally approve exemptions depending on the nature and reasonableness of the need. A maximum period of four months is granted for the necessary implementation.
Similarly, all trips abroad by the various institutions must have the approval of their governing or affiliated body.
Official delegations may not exceed three people unless they have written authorization from the governing or affiliated body.
Expected impact
Redistribution of resources: Financial and human resources freed up for priority sectors such as health and education.
Greater efficiency and transparency: A simpler, more transparent and results-oriented public administration.
Institutional strengthening: Stronger institutions, with clearly defined roles and functions aligned with the needs of the country.
