“Cleaning bushes and debris, but operating, providing services”, is how he defines the reality experienced by hoteliers in the Eastern region after Hurricane Fiona passed through the country, the executive vice president of the National Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores),Andres Marranzini, when consulted by Listín Diario.
The representative of the hoteliers indicated that only three hotels are not operating yet and he emphasized that, before the hurricane approached the coast, preventive measures had already been taken that establishes the protocol.
He stressed that only 500 guests out of 45,000 rooms had moved of the hotels that were at risk of flooding and the rooms facing the sea that could present dangerous situations.
“They moved to other hotels (guests) until their departure flight, which was one part today (yesterday) and another tomorrow (today). Nothing was improvised here, it’s how we always do it”, explained Marranzini.
He pointed out that by next week there will be greater clarity of the total damage caused by the atmospheric phenomenon that affected the country in the early hours of last Monday, after causing damage to the neighboring island of Puerto Rico.
“We are collecting and working to help the communities,” the vice president of Asonahores told this medium.
little damage
Last Tuesday, Asonahores reported that it had carried out a initial survey of damage caused by Hurricane Fiona as it passed through the country and highlighted the correct risk prevention protocol implemented by the member hotels of the guild where no incident with tourists or employees was reported.
“The vast majority of hotel rooms are operating and it is reported that In most hotels, infrastructure damage was minimal.and that the main impact was seen in light structures on the beaches, as well as with fallen trees and bushes,” the president of Asonahores, Rafael Blanco Tejera, reported in a statement.
Tejera welcomed the great collaboration provided by the relief agencies and the different authorities of the Dominican government to assist the affected areas.
The Punta Cana international airport restored its operations on the same Monday afternoon, as did the Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo.
Electric service
The electrical energy service was one of the most affected by the passage of Hurricane Fiona, in category one, however, yesterday both the Eastern Energy Generating Company (Edeeste) and the Punta Cana-Macao Energy Consortium indicated that they had restored almost 90% of the electricity supply in the Eastern region.
The CEPM had indicated that 60% of the circuits in its concession area had been affected by the phenomenon and yesterday he informed Listín Diario that 100% of the circuits had been restored in Bayahibe and in Punta Cana-Bavaro-Veron.
“CEPM already has 100% hotels and more than 90% residential,” said the institution through a representative.
He explained that the areas of Miches and Uvero Alto are still in process in many areas because there are areas that are still inaccessible and highly affected by the passage of the hurricane.
Meanwhile, Edeeste reported yesterday that the energy situation in the eastern part of the country began to stabilize, after the work of the brigades to repair the damage caused by the hurricane.
In a note, the general manager of the distribution company, Andrés Portes, explained that Higüey was energized early this Wednesday with the number one circuit of substation 138-12. KV and that 15% of the municipality already has electric service.
“We have 90% of the energy in Hato Mayor, 90% in El Seibo, 80% in Sabana de la Mar, 95% in San Pedro de Macorís and 60% in La Romana.with a tendency to increase that percentage of energy served during the day and night”, he detailed.
Portes indicated that they had the expectation of increasing, yesterday afternoon, to 60% the energy served in Higüey. He added that the electricity system companies work in a unified manner with all the efforts directed to the affected provinces.
Minor damage. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM) reported that the 85 free zone companies in the east of the country, mainly in La Romana and San Pedro de Macorís, operate normally, after the passage of Fiona, as they only registered minor damage. on your plants. Minister Víctor -Ito- Bisonó explained that the ministry is monitoring the situation.