Congressman proposes to declare Joaquín Balaguer "Father of the Environment"

Santo Domingo.– Representative Juan José Rojas, representing the province of Santo Domingo, submitted a bill that seeks to declare former President Joaquín Balaguer as the “Father of the Environment of the Dominican Republic”, in recognition of his historical legacy in the protection and conservation of the country's natural resources. This legislative piece also has the support of other deputies who are listed as co-sponsors, belonging to different parties of the Dominican political system, which demonstrates the plural and consensus nature of the initiative. The proposal highlights that, during their governments, extensive reforestation programs were promoted, as well as the creation of national parks, scientific reserves, and protected areas that today constitute a fundamental part of the Dominican environmental heritage.

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The project also establishes that the Ministry of Environment, in coordination with other state institutions, will develop educational programs and commemorative activities to disseminate Balaguer's environmental contribution to new generations. It also contemplates the designation of a protected area with its name and the construction of a monument in its honor, as a symbol of its commitment to sustainability and ecological preservation. Representative Rojas stated that this initiative seeks to "recognize a vision of the State that marked a before and after in Dominican environmental policy", highlighting the importance of strengthening national awareness of environmental protection.