Verón–Punta Cana municipal status proposals reintroduced

Legislative proposals have been reintroduced in the Dominican Republic to elevate the Verón–Punta Cana Tourist Municipal District to the status of a municipality. The initiative aims to restructure the administrative and territorial organization of the region to better manage its rapid population, commercial, and urban growth.

Deputy Francisco Villegas has submitted a project that proposes creating the municipal districts of Punta Cana and La Ceiba del Salado within the new municipality. Conversely, Senator Rafael Barón Duluc Rijo, also known as ‘Cholitín’, has re-introduced a proposal that would establish Verón as the municipal seat. Critics of the Senator's version note that under his plan, Punta Cana would be classified as a ‘paraje’ (a basic settlement category), which some argue contradicts the area's international prestige and economic importance.

According to the 2022 Census, Verón–Punta Cana has approximately 138,919 inhabitants, making it the most populous municipal district in the country. The region hosts over 70 hotels, the Punta Cana International Airport, and significant commercial infrastructure. If approved, the new municipality would encompass various sections including Juanillo and El Salado, with local authorities expected to be elected in February 2028.