La Vega-Jarabacoa road expansion sparks demolition protests

Residents and business owners along the La Vega-Jarabacoa highway in the Dominican Republic are protesting the methods used by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) during a road expansion project. Affected community members have reported that homes, commercial storefronts, and perimeter walls are being demolished by heavy machinery under military supervision.

Critics describe the process as “arbitrary” and “abusive,” noting that formal written notices were provided only about 20 days before demolitions began. Displaced residents claim they were pressured to accept unilateral settlement offers under threat of immediate destruction of their property. In one instance, a two-story residence was demolished after an offer of RD$1,800,000 was made.

A major point of contention is the valuation of the land. The MOPC has set compensation at RD$1,200 per square meter, while local owners assert that the market value ranges between RD$4,000 and RD$5,000 per square meter. While the community generally supports the modernization of the mountain corridor, they have condemned the lack of adequate notice, fair appraisals, and sufficient time to relocate.