Environmental and social programs in Mexico and Dominicania

In the Dominican Republic, President Luis Abinader has expanded social and infrastructure initiatives in San José de Ocoa. Building on the ‘Fogones por Estufas’ (Stoves for Hearths) program—which aims to protect national forests and improve living standards by replacing wood-burning stoves with gas appliances—the government reported a significant increase in regional development. During a Council of Ministers meeting, officials announced a public investment of RD$6,726 million in the province, marking a 94% increase over the previous period. This funding has supported more than 40 projects spanning road infrastructure, water, health, education, and electricity. Notable completions include the 14.4-kilometer Sabana Larga-Nizao highway, which connects the Cibao and Southern regions to facilitate agricultural and commercial transport, as well as school roofing and various sports and educational facilities. Officials noted that monetary poverty in the region decreased from 23.8% to 11.8% between 2019 and 2025. In the health sector, the President inaugurated specialized medical units at the San José de Ocoa Provincial Hospital, specifically Hemodialysis and Diabetic Foot units, to facilitate local treatment for chronic conditions. The ‘Fogones por Estufas’ initiative, managed by the Directorate of Social Assistance and Community Feeding, began in Rancho Arriba, benefiting 1,500 families with appliances including stoves, gas tanks, refrigerators, and washing machines. The program is slated for expansion to Santiago Rodríguez, San Juan, and Azua, supported by the ‘Bono Gas’ to ensure sustainable cooking methods. However, political tensions have emerged following Abinader’s comparison of his administration’s achievements against the previous 20 years of governance. The opposition PLD has contested these claims, arguing that public investment has actually decreased under the current administration. Simultaneously, in Mexico, Governor Javier May Rodríguez initiated a reforestation campaign in Tabasco. The program aims to plant 2.5 million trees across 2,500 hectares using 186 different species to restore vegetation lost in recent decades.