“We recognize that the situation is international in nature, that it is beyond our control, and that we are making progress, that we are on the right track.”.
SANTO DOMINGO– Although they expected President Luis Abinader to address issues affecting the middle class in his State of the Nation Address, two leaders in the real estate sector praised the measures announced by the head of state that will benefit the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
“It was a positive speech for the less affluent class, that the bases of aid be broadened in that direction because it will improve the purchasing power of that poor mass,” declared engineer Arturo Espinal, president of the Dominican Association of Hardware Stores (ASODEFE).
According to Alberto Bogaert, president of the Association of Real Estate Agents and Companies (AEI), the president announced many achievements and important projects in different areas such as tourism, housing, water among others; in addition to his speech aimed at the most vulnerable sectors.
Espinal considered the president's announcement about the number of projects to be built to be positive, because this pace will ensure the revitalization of the economy.
"We really saw that issues such as the cost of energy and fuels, which are not subsidized, were not addressed. In the case of the latter, we observed how they are pushing upwards every day," explained the leader of the hardware store owners.
“We recognize that the situation is international in nature, that it is beyond our control, and that we are making progress, that we are on the right track,” declared the president of the AEI.
According to the president of ASODEFE, Abinader should have addressed not only fuel prices but also the situation with the basic food basket and construction materials. “We have seen how the basic food basket has doubled in the last six months, while the price of construction materials has skyrocketed; many items have increased by more than 100%.”.
Espinal believes that the authorities have the tools to minimize the impact and benefit everyone because if the country does well, "if wealth is produced, it will be seen at all levels of the economy.".
Titlesand homes
In his Accountability Report last Sunday, President Luis Abinader reported that the Government has 10,031 homes under construction, 11,899 houses repaired, and a total of 15,298 title certificates issued, as a balance in the last year.
He assured that through the "Dominicana se Reconstruye" improvement program, which is being implemented nationwide, and through the Rapid Action Unit, 11,899 homes have been repaired, benefiting 37,720 people with an investment of nearly 1.8 billion pesos.
In his presentation to the Joint Meeting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, he explained that the total number of homes improved under the programs for replacing dirt floors with cement floors was 23,215. Most of these were located in the south of the country.
He stated that the average annual construction of public housing has been 1,680 units over the past eight years. “We are working tirelessly so that every Dominican man and woman can have a decent home of their own.”.
Regarding the land titling program, the president reported that the Permanent Commission for the Titling of State Lands, in 2021 alone, delivered a total of 15,298 title certificates, benefiting more than 61,000 people in 23 provinces of the country.
