President Abinader inaugurates the Monte Grande dam reservoir to guarantee water to the Southern region

This is an automated translation of the original release published in Spanish.

From the Presidency of the Dominican Republic

Azua.- President Luis Abinader inaugurated this Thursday the Monte Grande dam reservoir, an important milestone achieved in just three years, which constitutes the largest hydraulic work in the Caribbean, which will allow the sustainable development of the southern region and the improvement of people's quality of life.

The president highlighted that this work, carried out by the government through the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi) and with the support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), will not only benefit thousands of Dominicans through the supply of drinking water, but will also boost economic growth, giving security and tranquility to the area.

"Today is very important for the inhabitants of the southern region of the country and especially for the inhabitants of the provinces of Bahoruco, Azua, Independencia and Barahona. Today we deliver the completed reservoir of the Monte Grande dam; a dream of decades, today we are delivering it," said Abinader.

Remembering that the beginning of this work was in July 2010, 13 years ago, he said that when he came to the government in August 2020, the work had only advanced by 40% and that in three years, with a pandemic and international economic instability, they executed 60% of this infrastructure. "That's commitment and efficiency, but it's also reality."

The head of state expressed that this dam represents an advance in the country's water security and, in addition, is a vital work for flood mitigation that will provide immediate security to the more than 51 communities in the southwest, historically affected by flooding from the Yaque del Sur river. These include Jaquimeyes, Palo Alto, Vicente Noble, Cabral, Canoa, and other downstream districts, which suffered irreparable losses due to flooding of the river as it passes through the provinces of Barahona and Bahoruco.

"It is important to highlight that, as a consequence of the crisis caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic and due to financial issues typical of a megaproject of this nature, our government has had to make great efforts to go from 40% progress in the month of August 2020, to have the reservoir completely built, with the capacity to store 350 million cubic meters of water extracted from the Yaque del Sur River," highlighted the president.

However, he indicated, given the importance that this project represents and the firm commitment of our government to promote the sustainable development of the Southern region, with the support of CABEI we decided to redouble our efforts to complete this important project. And today it is a reality.

"We are aware that in order to take advantage of this important work, it is necessary to build the complementary works of the dam. For this reason, we are in the bidding process for the contracting of this infrastructure, on which work will begin this year," Abinader said.

Likewise, President Abinader pointed out that upon his arrival to the government, the technical studies, economic feasibility and design of the complementary works had not been carried out. After the collaboration between CABEI, Indrhi and the Ministry of Finance, an international public tender was carried out that resulted in the conclusion of the aforementioned studies in the month of November of last year.

These studies, he specified, showed an approximate cost for the works of US$336mn and its initial phase is already contemplated in this year's budget. "These complementary works will include the mixed conduction line for irrigation and gravity water supply to the southwest aqueduct and the hydroelectric plant, the rehabilitation works of the Santana dam and the irrigation works on the left bank of the river."

The president assured that this will translate into a direct benefit for the provinces of Barahona, Bahoruco and Independencia because the demands for irrigation and drinking water of the population will be met, as well as for the generation of electricity and diversification of the matrix energy in the area.

Supply equivalent annual electricity demand of 9,642 families

With these works, he added, we mainly seek to improve access to irrigation through the provision of hydraulic infrastructure capable of supplying the demand for water for various crops with a high level of availability and quality, reducing the risk of flooding for 90% of families on the banks of the Yaque del Sur River in its lower basin and supplying the equivalent annual electricity demand of 9,642 families, through the diversification of the energy matrix of the Dominican Republic with electricity from renewable resources.

President Abinader highlighted that this important work that they are delivering today is another of the great investments that the government has been promoting in favor of the Southern region, such as the Cabo Rojo – Pedernales Tourism Development Project, as well as the renovation of the Dr. Elio Fiallo Hospital and the new First Level Center in Pedernales, the construction of the first trauma treatment unit in the south, which will be ready by the second half of 2024, in conjunction with the Taiwan Trauma Hospital, in Azua.

Likewise, he made reference to the construction of the first maternal and child care center in the south, located in Barahona, and the construction of the tourist dock in that same city, the progress in the construction and readjustment of the Road Circuit of the Southern Region, which includes the beltway of Baní and the inauguration of the Azua ring road last year, the progress in the reconstruction and expansion of the highway that connects the municipality of Enriquillo with Pedernales and the new extensions of the UASD in Baní, Azua and Neyba.

"With this set of works that we can exhibit today, we reaffirm our commitment to the sustainable development of the Southern region, assuring you again that you are a priority for this government. Rest assured that, despite any atmospheric phenomenon, they are going to be much safer. The South advances, the South protects itself. The South takes off. Here and now," President Abinader concluded.

During the event, a replica of the Montegrande dam gate was presented to President Abinader, highlighting his unwavering commitment and decisive leadership for the continuation and successful completion of the Monte Grande dam. "His tireless dedication and vision to complete significant projects have reinforced his legacy of progress and development of the nation."

Guarantee flow for satisfactory operation of the Southwest Regional Aqueduct

For his part, the executive director of INDRHI, Olmedo Caba Romano, explained that the Monte Grande dam, which already guarantees the flow required for the satisfactory operation of the Southwest Regional Aqueduct, benefits more than 450 families living in 50 communities. southern parts of the country.

Caba Romano indicated that the work will have the capacity to control more than 20,000 cubic meters of water. More than 3,000 people worked there and around 7,000 indirect jobs were generated in the area. He explained that, in addition, it will benefit more than 22,000 agricultural producers, allowing the irrigation of more than 650,000 pieces of land.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos, highlighted the firm decision and commitment of President Abinader, who with a social strategy and comprehensive vision promoted in the area, in addition to the Montegrande dam, various works that raise the quality of life of the population.

Within these works he mentioned, the Population Center for the 390 families of Monte Grande, Los Güiros, La Meseta and San Simón, who were mobilized for the construction of the reservoir; a new ambulance; basic school, with capacity for 375 students; police detachment; Primary Care Unit (UNAP); cards from the Superate Program to all families that did not have this social support; National Health Insurance (SeNaSa); food rations from the Presidency's Social Plan; among others.

During the event, the senator of Azua, Lía Ynocencia Díaz, and of Bahoruco, Melania Salvador, also spoke, as well as the governor of Barahona, Genara González and Mr. Nino Féliz Segura, who expressed their gratitude to President Abinader for the conclusion of this important work for the Southern region, with which, in a historic act, a dream of all the inhabitants is fulfilled that was not taken into account by previous efforts.

The blessing of the work was carried out by Monsignor Andrés Napoleón Romero, bishop of the Diocese of Barahona.

After the ribbon-cutting that inaugurated the work, President Abinader took a boat tour of the dam, along with officials.

The president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, was present at the event; former president Hipólito Mejía; the administrative minister of the Presidency (interim), Igor Rodríguez; of the Interior and Police, Jesús Vásquez; of Agriculture, Limber Cruz; of Environment and Natural Resources, Miguel Ceara Hatton; of Economy, Planning and Development, Pável Isa; the senator of Santiago, Eduardo Estrella, and the director of the Central American Development Bank (CABEI) for the Dominican Republic, Hostos Rizik.

Also, the governor of Azua, Ángela Maruja Pérez; from Bahoruco, Juana Cristina Mateo; from Independencia, Mercedes Novas Novas, and from Pedernales, Miriam Brea de González; the general commander of the Dominican Republic Navy, Vice Admiral Agustín Morillo Rodríguez; the general director of the National Police, Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta, and the senator from Bahoruco, Melania Salvador; among other personalities.