Dominican Republic addresses public infrastructure maintenance cycle

The Dominican Republic faces a recurring cycle of constructing public works and subsequently neglecting their maintenance, leading to costly rehabilitations or demolitions. This pattern affects various sectors, including hospitals, bridges, roads, and sports facilities.

To prepare for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, the government has allocated approximately 9 billion pesos to intervene in 16 sports complexes and build a new pavilion. President Luis Abinader noted that the Félix Sánchez Stadium was in deplorable condition, emphasizing the need for permanent conservation mechanisms.

Additionally, a census by the National Assets Directorate identified numerous abandoned or underutilized state properties. A recovery program is underway for 64 properties, including 31 governorships and 33 other buildings. A second phase involves investing 762 million pesos into 24 buildings, such as the Don Antonio Guzmán Fernández government building, which had not received intervention in 46 years. The plan aims to use savings from reduced rental costs to fund the ongoing maintenance of these recovered assets.