SB issues circular allowing users to choose whether or not to receive calls from banks offering products and services; oil prices threaten the government's inflation target; Abinader will present the Hydrocarbons Law at his February 27th accountability report; Venezuela did not give away fuel; Casa Bonita hotel catches fire again; vehicle prices rise; Antipulpo preliminary trial set for April 4th; see the tunnels that will be closed today, Tuesday.
You will be able to choose whether to receive "unwelcome" calls from banks offering products
The Superintendency of Banks (SB) today ordered that financial intermediation entities (EIF) remove from their contact lists, for the offering of new products and services, those users who so request.
Through Circular SB No. 004/22, the supervisory body emphasizes that users have the right to expressly refuse to receive commercial communications and unsolicited calls, as well as to revoke at any time the consent granted to receive such communications. The circular gives entities a period of 90 days to implement the necessary adjustments to allow users to submit requests in this regard.
Oil prices could jeopardize the government's inflation target
Fuel subsidies are one of the measures proposed by economists Antonio Ciriaco and Henri Hebrard as part of the mechanisms that the government should use in response to the rising price of oil in international markets.
The rise in the price of crude oil, which yesterday closed at US$91.32 per barrel of Texas (the country's benchmark), puts the inflation target of the Central Bank and the government under attack, which this year they estimated to be around 5%, according to both experts.
Abinader will bring the amendment to the Hydrocarbons Law to Congress on February 27
President Luis Abinader announced that he will take the draft amendment to the Hydrocarbons Law to Congress on February 27, as he had promised in his first accountability report in February 2021.
The president indicated that one of the main modifications to the Hydrocarbons Law seeks to change the fuel tax payment system. Abinader also announced that on the day of the State of the Nation Address, he will submit the draft reforms to the Procurement and Contracting Law and the law regulating trusts.
Venezuela didn't give fuel to the Dominican Republic; it provided it on long-term credit
Petrocaribe did not offer price preferences or free fuel; it was a favorable financing mechanism
Regarding President Luis Abinader's remarks last weekend about the government's debt to Petrocaribe, the Caribbean is publishing a report today indicating that the Dominican Republic benefited significantly between 2005 and the end of 2015 from the energy cooperation agreement conceived by Venezuela—under the presidency of Hugo Chávez—which, while representing a favorable financing mechanism, did not offer price preferences or free fuel.
This mechanism allowed the country to invest in social programs the resources that would have been spent on fuel purchases under normal market conditions. But clearly, the advantage lay more in the payment terms and the exchange rate set by Venezuela than in any other factor. Oil was traded according to market rates, regardless.
Hotel Casa Bonita continues to operate normally after a fire affected its facilities
The Casa Bonita hotel reported that it continues to operate normally, as the facilities open to the public were not affected by a small fire that occurred in an area away from the service area.
Casa Bonita management explained that the fire started in facilities that are not in use and where repair work is being carried out, but it was quickly extinguished and none of the people involved were injured.
Vehicle prices have skyrocketed due to the international crisis
“A 2022 Toyota Hilux (truck), which I sold to a customer for $56,500 in August, was resold now, used and with five thousand kilometers, for $58,500; $2,000 more than it cost new.”.
This quote, which corresponds to Juan Peña, administrator of one of the dealers located on 27 de Febrero Avenue, in the National District, summarizes the period that the automotive industry is experiencing: a revaluation of new and used vehicles, caused by several factors.
Peña stated that, in addition to the $2,000 price increase for the aforementioned truck, the customer had to pay another 55,000 pesos for the transfer of ownership. “And I have information that the same vehicle, when it arrives new at the end of April—because there aren't any available—will cost between $62,000 and $63,000.”.
The preliminary hearing in the Antipulpo case will be on April 4th
The preliminary hearing in the Anti-Octopus case, in which more than 20 former officials of the previous administration are accused, including a sister and a brother of Danilo Medina, will take place on April 4th of this year. Deyvi Timoteo Peguero, the judge of the Seventh Court of Instruction of the National District, ordered a 25-day extension for the defense of those implicated in the Anti-Octopus case. The court also scheduled a mandatory review of the pretrial detention and house arrest measures for February 21st at 9:00 a.m. for all those implicated who are currently in pretrial detention or under house arrest.
The judge also ordered the Public Prosecutor's Office to set up a computer room in the Najayo prison so that the defendants and their lawyers can review the file, which consists of 103,000 pages, including accusations and evidence.
The defendants in the case are Alexis Medina Sánchez, Wacal Bernabé Méndez, José Dolores Santana, Julián Esteban Suriel, Domingo Santiago Muñoz, Aquiles Christopher, Fernando Rosa, Rafael Antonio Germosén, Wilfredo Hidalgo, Francisco Pagán, and Carmen Magalys Medina Sánchez. Also charged are María Isabel de los Milagros Torres, José Miguel Genao Torres, Pachristy Emmanuel Ramírez Pacheco, Antonio Florentino Méndez, Lina Ercilia de la Cruz Vargas, Rigoberto Alcántara Batista, Víctor Matías Encarnación Montero, Carlos Martín Montes de Oca, Rafael Leónidas de Oleo, Libni Arodi Valenzuela Matos, Paola Mercedes Molina Suazo, Francisco Ramón Brea Morel (a) Johnny, and Lewyn Ariel Castillo Robles.
The tunnels and overpasses that the MOPC will close this week
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) announced that, starting Monday, February 7th, and continuing until Saturday, February 12th, it will close tunnels and overpasses in Greater Santo Domingo to carry out maintenance and cleaning work on level crossings, including tunnels and overpasses.
The closures will be both full and partial, and will be in effect from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM the following day. Today, Tuesday, there will be full closures on the overpasses at Luperón Avenue and 30 de Mayo Highway, Kennedy Avenue and Núñez de Cáceres Avenue, Duarte Highway and Duarte Street (Los Alcarrizos), Charles de Gaulle Avenue and the San Isidro Highway and Mella Highway, and the Ortega y Gasset Tunnel (UASD).
Sources: Listín Diario, Diario Libre, El Día, Hoy, El Caribe
