President Luis Abinader started this Sunday the work for the construction of the first two hotels that will be part of the Pedernales-Cabo Rojo Tourism Development Project, under the supervision of the Pro-Pedernales Trust and the General Directorate of Public-Private Alliances (Dgapp ). The companies awarded for the construction of these hotels are the consortia Therrestra-Estel and Cocaro Development.
During the act, President Luis Abinader urged the inhabitants of Pedernales, the Enriquillo region and the entire South, to defend their projects.
He also invited those who have opposed the development of the area to join in the success.
The president explained that for the construction of these first two hotels, an investment of US$240 million is estimated and that between the two complexes there will be a total of 1,100 rooms, which will represent opportunities for more jobs, more growth and better opportunities for the country and for Dominicans. opportunities.
“For a serious and honest ruler, the word pledged with his people to promote real and tangible change, with concrete projects and fulfilled promises is, without a doubt, the reason that moves me and my Government in the task of managing this country. day by day,” he said.
President Abinader took the opportunity to announce that the Pedernales-Cabo Rojo Tourism Development Plan already has the environmental license for the construction and operation of the project, which was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Similarly, it was reported that Cabo Rojo-Pedernales is the only tourism development plan that has a Tourist Load Capacity Study and a Socio-environmental Management Guidelines Manual for construction works and environmental management instructions for companies. builders.
“Since the beginning of the planning of the project, the guidelines and directives indicated for the rational use of natural resources have been followed, especially considering the importance of conserving the ecological balance of the wetlands present in the area,” he said.
And he added: “Our tourism is diverse, and our possibilities are almost endless. We have been, as you know, recognized worldwide by the World Tourism Organization, in our management of the sector in very difficult years. But I am sure that what is coming now will not only receive the recognition of the UNWTO, but that it will be unanimous recognition from investors, visitors, and the whole of the Dominican people”.
On his side, the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos Echavarría, recalled that the Pedernales-Cabo Rojo Development Plan contemplates works with estimated investments of some 2.245 million dollars in the next 10 years; within which are nine hotels, an international airport, a shopping center, an aqueduct, a wastewater treatment plant and an electrical transmission system; hydrosanitary works, highways such as Enriquillo-Pedernales, internal roads in Cabo Rojo.
Santos Echavarría said that Iberostar and Inclusive Collection Part of World of Hyatt are the two hotel chains that started what will be a network of hotels in Pedernales-Cabo Rojo, where the construction of 4,700 rooms is projected in the first phase, from the 12 thousand that the development contemplates in a period of 10 years.
“These two chains of international prestige that, moved by the trust and stability guaranteed by the Government of President Luis Abinader, are the pioneers, the ones that initiate the definitive tourist development of a beautiful province, of a paradisiacal coast, full of attractions, with noble and hard-working people, like Pedernales,” said Santos Echavarría.
The minister thanked the President for placing Pedernales on the development path.
“Count on all the support that corresponds to the Ministry of the Presidency and the agencies linked to this organization, that we work hand in hand with you in the actions that are carried out here, be it under the strict legal order, respect and harmony with the environment above all, integrating the community”.
Meanwhile, the director of Public-Private Alliances, Sigmund Freund, assured that the Plan will transform the territories of the southern region and the entire country, boosting productivity through tourism, industry and commerce, as well as the demand for academic training. and specialized, agricultural production, enterprises and the work of MiPymes, local and interprovincial transport and the presence of the banking and financial sector.
“There is no doubt that this is the great commitment of the Government of change, supported by the private sector represented here with businessmen, hoteliers, developers and national and international investors to offer the true protagonists of this new story, the inhabitants of the South, the opportunities who waited for so long,” he proclaimed.
Progress of the other works
Regarding the progress of other works, such as hydrosanitary works, Freund explained that the designs for the wastewater treatment plant were completed in December, and that they are currently in the construction process. Meanwhile, they are in final review of the designs for the electrical substation and the conduction line systems that will be serving the project.
“Preliminary work is also being carried out in the area, such as topographic surveys and soil studies. The electrical designs of the equipment to be used have been submitted and approved and we are in communication with the electrical equipment factories for manufacturing and shipping,” he indicated.
About the hotels
On the other hand, Freund pointed out that the geotechnical studies of the soils of the first four hotels of phase I have been completed and that work continues with up to four simultaneous brigades in the other five hotels, for which the movement of earth began in the physical space of the first four hotels that will be built in the project.
domestic flights
“Another great achievement was the start of domestic flights from La Isabela International Airport (El Higüero) to the Cabo Rojo aerodrome, news that was welcomed with great joy by all people from Flint inside and outside the country, and by all those who they were born in nearby communities. It is the only regular internal domestic flight that exists in the Dominican Republic,” he stated.
He stated that in little more than two months, hundreds of people have flown to the area, among them tourists, businessmen, but, above all, absent people from Flint who want to live the experience of viewing the region from the high sky, from where the unique beauty of the area is more appreciated.
Present at the event were the first lady, Raquel Arbaje; the president of the Senate, Eduardo Estrella; the director of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón; the Banreservas administrator, Samuel Pereyra; the governor of Pedernales, Altagracia Brea; the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Miguel Ceara Hatton; the senator of the province, Dionis Sánchez and the deputy, Edirda D’Oleo Peña; the director of the Airport Department, Víctor Pichardo, among others.
