Govt. earmarks US$1mn for e-government project

The government of the Dominican Republic has included 30mn pesos (US$1.1mn) in its 2005 national budget for the first phase of an electronic government project, according to the government's website. The project aims to increase the use of automation in all public services through technology and will enable citizens to use the internet to pay taxes, renew drivers' licenses and accelerate the process for obtaining passports and identification cards, among others things. The e-government program includes the creation of an internet portal from which any citizen can pay taxes and request basic services along with the creation of a call center to respond to these requests. Users will not need hyperlinks to any governments ministries since they will access one unique portal, "which will be the face of the government," Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández said in the report. Using the internet, citizens will also be able to propose government purchases to companies, participate in tenders and remain informed of budgetary processes.