Guido Gómez Mazara highlights historic government investments in Santiago

Santiago.- The president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), Guido Gómez Mazara, assured this Friday that the main political and social battle in the country is being fought in the field of information, where digital manipulation and the dissemination of fake news have become a national challenge. In a meeting with communicators in Santiago, Gómez Mazara announced the launch of a national strategy against disinformation, which will begin in this province with tours, community meetings, and an active presence in the media.

“Today, the freedom of expression is not being discussed, but rather the obligation to construct a narrative based on truth. Our duty is to confront lies with verifiable facts,” he stated.

The official warned that 62% of the information circulating on digital platforms is false, which daily affects more than 10 million Dominicans. He cited recent examples of foreign and old images spread on social media as if they were current ones from the country.

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Investments in Santiago During his intervention, Gómez Mazara highlighted the investments made by President Luis Abinader's government in this province, which he described as "historic" in key areas:

• Health: more than RD$822 million in infrastructure and hospital equipment; the high-cost medication program increased from RD$2.746 billion in 2019 to RD$7.313 billion in 2024.
• Transportation: construction of the Santiago Monorail (13.2 km and 14 stations) and launch of the first stage of the Cable Car.
• Road works: improvements to the Duarte highway, extension of Francia Avenue, Jánico-Sabana Iglesia road, San José de las Matas road and asphalt paving in Sajoma and Guayabal.
• Water and sanitation: the La Canela and Cienfuegos aqueducts provide 28 million gallons daily; while the sanitation of the Gurabo Stream exceeds RD$1.5 billion, with a third stage at 80% execution.
• Education and culture: rehabilitation of schools, urban and cultural projects, improvements to the Historic Center and the Antonio Guzmán building.
• Telecommunications: INDOTEL will execute a special investment for this demarcation from December.

Political response Gómez Mazara maintained that in the face of each attack or disinformation campaign, the government's response will be to show results.

"Every time an adversary tells a lie, we are going to respond with five works. Nobody can deny that this Government has done more in five years than what was done in the previous two decades," he emphasized.

He advanced that in two weeks he will return to Santiago with leaders and officials to directly show the citizenry the progress made. He also reported that in just 72 hours, more than 27,000 young people from Santiago applied for student scholarships, a fact that, he said, reflects citizens' trust in public policies.