Abinader highlights advances in infrastructure and social care in Sierra communities; inaugurates Guardarraya highway

The expansion and reconstruction of the Guardarraya road, which connects Baitoa with Tavera, involved an investment of RD$ 241.1 million. Santiago.– President Luis Abinader highlighted the unprecedented progress made in infrastructure and social care in Sierra communities, while reaffirming new commitments to continue improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. President Abinader, accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, highlighted the positive impact of the Tavera Dam and associated infrastructure, emphasizing that, for the first time, the benefits of these works are being directly perceived by the mountain communities, both in terms of access to services and boosting local productivity. He acknowledged that there are still pending challenges, such as the construction of several kilometers of community roads, but assured that the Government continues to manage the necessary resources to complete these interventions gradually and sustainably. Among the strategic works mentioned, the president highlighted the Navarrete Ring Road, which he defined as a key route to strengthen the connectivity of the Northwest Line, as well as multiple projects being developed in Santiago, executed by both the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company and other state institutions.

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In the social and community sphere, the Head of State announced that the funds to complete the parish hall of the local church will be transferred in the coming week. Likewise, he instructed the Ministry of Housing and Buildings to coordinate with the nuns of the community the continuation of a building they have started, recognizing the important social and community role they play. During his speech, the ruler shared a personal connection with the area, recalling that his maternal family, with the surname Cava, originates from the Jagua Gorda section, in the municipal district of Tavera. He recounted that the road currently being worked on has a special value for his family, as it was the route his grandfather used to travel to visit his grandmother, highlighting the historical and human roots of the works carried out. President Abinader also announced the acceleration of works in the municipality of Baitoa, with emphasis on drinking water projects. He informed that one of the aqueducts is already in the bidding process, which guarantees the availability of resources, while another is being executed in the Sabana Iglesia area. Similarly, he indicated that two sports roofs are being built, one by the Ministry of Sports and the other by the Ministry of Education, which will be expedited. EGEHID Management Drives Strategic Works in the Sierra On his part, the general administrator of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), engineer Rafael Salazar, highlighted that the institution maintains the same budget as previous years, but has achieved a significant increase in its operational capacity, which has allowed to multiply the working hours and execute a greater number of infrastructure works in the mountain communities of Cibao. Salazar explained that the expansion and reconstruction of the Guardarraya road, which connects the municipality of Baitoa, in the province of Santiago, with the municipal district of Tavera, in the province of La Vega, represented an investment of RD$ 241,191,458.00. He detailed that the works included the widening of the road, the construction of gutters, culvert crossings and their headwalls, gabion walls and table walls, as well as the finishing of the road surface, sidewalks, curbs and speed bumps, in addition to the asphalting and signage, guaranteeing greater safety, durability and better traffic conditions for the benefited communities. He also highlighted that, for the first time, three dam projects are being developed simultaneously, with the completion of Guayubín and the start of the Guaigüí and Gina dams, in addition to two hydro-pumping projects planned for this year, considered strategic to strengthen the national energy matrix and guarantee greater water security. The official also highlighted the cleaning and sediment extraction work in existing dams, such as Valdesia, an action that allows the recovery of storage capacity equivalent to the construction of a new dam, without generating additional costs for the State. Finally, he reiterated President Luis Abinader's commitment to the sustainable development of the mountain communities and urged local authorities and the population to protect and maintain the delivered works to ensure their long-term social and economic impact.