Eight Groups Involved in Environmental Agreement for Greater Santo Domingo

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources signed an agreement with seven public institutions to strengthen relations that will encourage the integration of civil society in the task of protecting all aspects of the environment.

“We are joining forces among all sectors in this declaration of intentions to reduce our carbon monoxide…”

The agreement was drawn up by the Environment Ministry, Public Health and Social Assistance Ministry (SESPAS), the National Police Department, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and the town halls of the Capital, Santo Domingo, in the East, West and North.

“We are joining forces among all sectors in this declaration of intentions to reduce our carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur emission levels as well as noise pollution, to name just a few things,” said Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal,

He explained that, according to studies done by the ministry, although the average emissions in the DR do not exceed the internationally permitted levels, they are at the point of doing so. He said there are spots in Greater Santo Domingo where they do indeed the established maximum levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are places in Eastern Santo Domingo, such as Las Mina, where the WHO-established the 70-decibel noise level is far exceeded. In the case of carbon monoxide levels, the limit is 40,000 millimicrons and, in such places like the tunnels on 27 of February Avenue, the level is higher than 60,000 millimicrons

The involved organizations agreed to jointly contribute to the municipalities to mitigate the carbon monoxide and noise emissions through citizen awareness programs. They also agree to overhaul the actual installations of the main city traffic routes and to re-launch the Quisqueya Verde National Plan in the Santo Domingo metropolitan area.

Bautista Rojas, Minister of Public Health and Roberto Salcedo, from the National District Syndicate, affirmed that the agreement is a step in the right direction toward fighting air and noise pollution and that it will be added to the citizens awareness and educational campaign that includes programs in the schools.

The Declaration of Santo Domingo includes the elaboration of inter-institutional operational development plans and the optimization of fuel-saving resources, better management practices and controls to reduce the effects of climate change.

Legal Base

This agreement is protected under the General Health Law 41-01 and Law 87-01, which preside over the Dominican Social Security System and assigns the role of preservation of the health of the Dominican people to the Health System.

At the same time, Institutional Law 96-04 was referred to in that it establishes within its main function, the preservation of life and physical and moral integrity of the country´s citizens. In addition, there is Law 176-07 of the National District and Municipalities, which share in their support to strengthen the Municipal Environment Management Units (UGAM) for the definition of public policies.

And finally, Decree 393-97 which created the Metropolitan Transit Authority whose contribution has been to study the problems related to transportation and to establish of highway regulations to fulfill transit laws. This has involved the Metropolitan Transit Authority as an important member in the Declaration of Santiago with a deep interest in achieving specific goals.

Nelson Rosario, Public Relations of the National Police; Juan de los Santos, Syndicate of Eastern Santo Domingo; Major General Rafael Guillermo Fermín, Chief of the National Police; Bautista Rojas Gómez, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance; Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Jesús Félix, Syndicate of Northern Santo Domingo, together at the signing of the agreement.

Nelson Rosario, Public Relations of the National Police; Juan de los Santos, Syndicate of Eastern Santo Domingo; Major General Rafael Guillermo Fermín, Chief of the National Police; Bautista Rojas Gómez, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance; Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Jesús Félix, Syndicate of Northern Santo Domingo, together at the signing of the agreement.

Nelson Rosario, Public Relations of the National Police; Juan de los Santos, Syndicate of Eastern Santo Domingo; Major General Rafael Guillermo Fermín, Chief of the National Police; Bautista Rojas Gómez, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance; Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Jesús Félix, Syndicate of Northern Santo Domingo, together at the signing of the agreement..

Nelson Rosario, Public Relations of the National Police; Juan de los Santos, Syndicate of Eastern Santo Domingo; Major General Rafael Guillermo Fermín, Chief of the National Police; Bautista Rojas Gómez, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance; Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Jesús Félix, Syndicate of Northern Santo Domingo, together at the signing of the agreement.