EN 
ES Budget Director: “Now we have a budget model highly dedicated to the well-being of the people.”
Rijo Presbot presenta avances de la política presupuestaria dominicana a misión técnica del Fondo Monetario Internacional El director general de Presupuesto, José Rijo Presbot, sostuvo una reunión con representantes del Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI), para pasar revista al desempeño reciente y las perspectivas de la economía dominicana. El encuentro, se suma a una serie de reuniones de la misión del FMI, liderada por el economista Esteban Vesperoni, con organismos del Gobierno del presidente Luis Abinader. La reunión, que se realizó en modalidad virtual con los técnicos desde Washington, estuvo moderada por Pamela Madrid y Hassan Adan, economistas del FMI. Rijo Presbot presentó la situación del país desde agosto del 2020, cuando inició esta gestión, en plena pandemia y con una caída de todas las actividades económicas que, según apuntó, obligó al Gobierno a tener un control de gasto no prioritario en el Presupuesto y un incremento de cerca de 40 mil millones de pesos, destinados a salud y necesidades de la población. Dijo también que, desde el Gobierno se aplicaron ajustes para reducir gastos y priorizar la salud y la educación. “Ese esfuerzo nos ha llevado a tener un programa de vacunación y brindar seguridad, porque hay una concepción clara de que nuestro Gobierno tiene un compromiso de cumplimiento con la ética, transparencia e integridad. Lo que ha propiciado una confianza que ha permitido que ya este año estemos exhibiendo números muy halagadores, con un crecimiento a septiembre, de 12.7% del PIB”, expresó. Gasto orientado al bienestar de la gente El director de Presupuesto apuntó que se han ajustado algunas áreas y se ha hecho una reingeniería del gasto orientado a elevar el bienestar de la gente. “Todo lo que no vaya en esa línea, lo hemos reducido para transferirlo a subsidios, a mejoramientos, al apoyo del sector agrícola, a productores de alimentos significativos y eso ha permitido que la canasta básica no se haya alterado tanto”. Aseguró también que uno de los objetivos fundamentales del Gobierno es ir disminuyendo los déficits. “Pensábamos, originalmente antes de pandemia, que nosotros en tres años íbamos a tener déficit cero, pero la pandemia nos ha obligado a tener que seguir un modelo presupuestario deficitario que antes era altamente clientelar y ahora es altamente dedicado a la calidad de vida de la gente”. Resaltó que el Proyecto de Ley de PGE para el 2022, que se encuentra en discusión en el Congreso Nacional, establece ejes fundamentales enfocados al bienestar de los ciudadanos a través de la salud, seguridad social, educación de calidad, protección social, reactivación económica y recuperación de empleos dignos. Igualmente, justicia, orden público, seguridad ciudadana, acceso al agua y una mayor inversión en vivienda digna. “No encontramos un proyecto nuevo de acueducto y ahora mismo tenemos 65 proyectos nuevos de pequeños acueductos que van a estar incorporados en el Presupuesto del 2022, como prioridad”, haciendo referencia al acceso al agua como un derecho de las familias. Rediseño de los subsidios Durante la reunión, Rijo Presbot destacó el interés del Gobierno en atender las necesidades de la población más vulnerable y de crear oportunidades verdaderas de desarrollo humano. Afirmó que, “la idea no es crecer en número de beneficiados, sino contribuir para que menos personas se vean en la necesidad de asistencia monetaria condicionada”. En ese sentido, resaltó que para lograr que haya menos impacto en la población necesitada, el Gobierno ha aumentado los subsidios. “El antiguo programa Comer es Primero, que antes tenía una asignación de 850 pesos por familia, ahora lo duplicamos y elevamos a 1,650 pesos. Sumado esto, a que antes de pandemia, alcanzaba a 830 mil beneficiados y ahora tenemos 1 millon 350 mil”. Eliminar malas prácticas El director de Presupuesto recordó que este año se han eliminado una serie de acciones que antes se hacían. “Por ejemplo, había ejecuciones de gasto de capital que no se registraban en el PGE del año corriente. Esos gastos, que no se registraban, no transparentaban el déficit real. Entonces, ese monto ejecutado, pero no registrado, se pasaba al año siguiente como disminución de cuentas por pagar. Esto generaba lo que llamamos una deuda administrativa de años anteriores. Nosotros hemos eliminado esa práctica”. Reveló que dicha práctica, representó de enero al 14 de agosto de 2020, 62 mil millones de pesos. “Es decir que más de 1,000 millones de dólares fueron ejecutados fuera del sistema presupuestario. Eso nosotros lo hemos eliminado por completo. Y todo aquel funcionario que lo haga, lo paga con su patrimonio”, puntualizó. Suma histórica en gasto de capital Rijo Presbot reveló que en el mes de octubre se invirtieron 9,090 millones de pesos, “la mayor inversión de toda la historia dominicana en el mes de octubre fue la de este año 2021 y así esperamos que siga incrementando el gasto de capital en los meses finales”. En ese orden, Pamela Madrid, economista del FMI, preguntó sobre las expectativas desde Presupuesto en cuanto al ritmo de inversión para los próximos meses, a lo que Rijo Presbot aseguró que se mantendrán cerca del nivel de octubre. A modo de aporte, Rafael Jovine, director de Estudios Económicos de DIGEPRES, presentó el informe de Ejecución Presupuestaria hasta el mes de octubre, que incluye el gasto de capital y que refleja la evolución de los últimos 5 años. Finalmente, los economistas del FMI plantearon la posibilidad de brindar cooperación y asistencia. De su lado, Rijo Presbot agradeció la disposición y reiteró el interés del Gobierno del presidente Abinader en fortalecer la institucionalidad democrática para una mejor gobernanza. Junto al director general de Presupuesto, estuvieron presentes Odilys Hidalgo, directora de Servicios Presupuestarios; Griselda Gómez, directora de Calidad y Evaluación de la Gestión Presupuestaria; David Canaán, encargado de Recursos Humanos; Patricia Castillo, encargada de Planificación y Desarrollo; María Mariñas, encargada de Análisis y Estudios Económicos; Airon Fernández y Aris Balbuena, especialistas de Programas Presupuestarios de la DIGEPRES.
Presupuesto: gobiernos locales disponen de RD$625.5 MM para sueldo 13, sin tomar prestado
Gobierno logró acuerdo con ayuntamientos y alcaldías y entierra vieja práctica de endeudamiento La práctica común de tomar préstamos a fin de año para garantizar el salario 13 o doble sueldo, de los servidores públicos municipales, ha quedado en el pasado. Así se ha reiterado desde la Dirección General de Presupuesto (DIGEPRES), que, por segundo año consecutivo, ha logrado evitar que los ayuntamientos y alcaldías, que conforman los gobiernos locales, tengan que solicitar préstamos al Banco de Reservas. La iniciativa es fruto de un acuerdo interinstitucional entre Gobierno central y gobiernos locales, que busca garantizar la apropiación total de recursos para cumplir con los derechos laborales de trabajadores de los ayuntamientos. Mediante acuerdo, desde inicio del 2021, el Gobierno del presidente Luis Abinader procedió a reservar la doceava parte de las transferencias a remuneraciones, a los fines de disponer de esas partidas en diciembre y pagar efectivamente el salario 13. Para diciembre 2021, un total de 393 gobiernos locales dispondrán de la totalidad de los recursos, ascendentes a RD$ 625.5 millones, para así cumplir, sin necesidad de endeudarse, con las remuneraciones al personal municipal, de acuerdo con datos ofrecidos por el Departamento de Estudios Económicos de la DIGEPRES. Con esta iniciativa, la presente Administración gubernamental desmonta una práctica nociva que se remonta a, por lo menos, 15 años de vigencia. Se deja atrás, además, las constantes declaratorias de emergencia en el Congreso Nacional para el conocimiento y aprobación de estos préstamos, que incluían también el pago de intereses y la retención por parte del Banco de Reservas de las respectivas cuotas mensualmente. Fondo de cohesión territorial para 2022 Para el 2022, el Proyecto de Ley de Presupuesto General del Estado establece la transferencia de RD$ 22,522.8 millones al conjunto de los gobiernos locales, lo que representa un incremento del 8.9% en función al año 2021 y RD$1,833.7 millones adicionales, aparte de un Fondo de Cohesión Territorial de RD$410.9 millones que beneficiará a las 40 municipalidades más vulnerables del país.
Rijo Presbot: “Public policies arise from local priorities”
The Director of the Budget Office held a meeting with representatives of the Citizen Forum. As a way to bring the budget closer to civil society and promote more participatory management, the General Directorate of the Budget Office held a Citizen Meeting with the Social Policy Committee of the Citizen Forum social movement. The meeting, attended by more than 30 representatives from different organizations, was led by the Director General of the Budget Office, José Rijo Presbot, and moderated by Juan Luis Corporán, Technical Deputy Director of Ciudad Alternativa. Rijo Presbot presented the group with the new structure of the 2022 General State Budget Bill and the progress made in the formulation and execution of the current General State Budget, especially regarding housing, territorial development, health, education, and social security. In his presentation, he emphasized that the General Directorate of the Budget Office is giving the budget a new vision, directly linking it to the goals, results, and needs of the population. “We have identified priorities within each of the general objectives of the National Development Strategy. For example, 31 billion pesos were allocated for efficient and targeted public administration, and 223 billion pesos for quality education for all. We are currently assessing each general objective to determine what can be achieved with these resources,” Rijo emphasized. Territorial Cohesion During the Citizen Meeting, the topic of territoriality within the Budget was addressed, and Rijo highlighted that, “regarding territorial cohesion, there is a concept stemming from the Government of Change program, led by the President, and the design of public policies with the clear understanding that investment must be made where people live. Territory is fundamental.” In this regard, he emphasized the connection between the Budget, investment projects, and the demands addressed that have emerged from the provincial and municipal development councils. “It is important to develop a strategic plan for localities so that public policies directed toward those municipalities can then be developed from there,” the Budget Minister stressed. Over RD$1,446 billion allocated solely for housing. When asked about social housing construction, Rijo Presbot affirmed that this is a priority issue. “For next year, in the new Ministry of Housing and Construction, we have an allocation of over 6 billion pesos exclusively for housing.” He also stated that 15,000 homes have been built through the “Dominicana se Construye” (Dominican Republic Builds) program and highlighted the government's commitment to helping those who aspire to buy a home by contributing to a percentage of the interest rate. Citizen Budget. Rijo Presbot took advantage of the meeting to discuss initiatives aimed at making the General State Budget (PGE) more accessible to the public. “We have just published the Citizen Budget, a more streamlined and simplified version of the PGE Bill,” he said, encouraging the representatives of the Social Policy Committee to offer any suggestions. For his part, Aris Balbuena, Budget Programs Specialist at DIGEPRES, pointed out that the goal is to strengthen social oversight, transparency, and citizen participation. “As part of this commitment, we schedule these Citizen Meetings systematically and interactively to enrich our work through exchange,” he added. Also participating in this Citizen Meeting were Jenny Torres, Guadalupe Valdez, Pepe Castro, Ricardo González, Gregory Sena, Patricia Gómez, Virginia Pastor, Eulalia Jiménez, Fabián Mejía, and other representatives from the Social Policy Roundtable. The Citizen Forum brings together approximately 400 organizations that address social issues through committees and working groups.
Budget highlights achievements in integrity and transparency management
International Dialogue on Transparency and Integrity of the Public Network: President Abinader Reaffirms Government's Commitment to Principles, Ethics, and Integrity. In an event led by the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, the 5th International Dialogue on Transparency and Integrity of the Public Integrity Network of Latin America and the Caribbean took place. This year, the Dominican Republic hosted this event, which, together with the General Directorate of Ethics and Governmental Integrity (DIGEIG), is organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This series of meetings provided a platform to highlight and publicize the tools and reforms implemented by the Dominican government to consolidate transparency and integrity and promote citizen participation. In this regard, President Abinader stated that, “there is no transformative action without principles, ethics, and integrity in the exercise of power.” During his address, the president also highlighted the various projects and ten-point codes of best practices that link all levels of his government. “A good example of this is our transparency portal, where anyone can access information on public contracts, tenders, salaries, and plans. Everything is there because there is nothing to hide,” the head of state emphasized in his speech. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Budget, José Rijo Presbot, joined the second day of public sessions with the topic “Modernizing the Integrity and Transparency System of the Dominican Republic.” Also participating were Catalino Correa, Comptroller General of the Republic; Milagros Ortíz Bosch, Director General of Ethics and Governmental Integrity; and Carlos Pimentel, Director General of Procurement and Contracting. Rijo Presbot stated that the General Directorate of Budget (DIGEPRES) has implemented significant budget controls aimed at controlling public spending, ensuring transparency, and aligning the plan and the budget to achieve positive results. “For the first time, we have drafted a Budget Bill for 2022 that links the National Development Strategy 2030 with the strategic axes for producing the General State Budget.” As a fundamental aspect of the Budget reforms, Rijo Presbot highlighted the consolidation of the process for preparing medium-term fiscal frameworks through a methodological guide and the improvements introduced in the State Financial Management Information System (SIGEF), which now allows institutions to formulate their budgets on a multi-year basis. “In 2017, only 831% of institutions based their budgets on service targets. Today, we can say that 991% of institutions do so,” added the Budget Director. Greater Spending Control and Reduction of Accounts Payable Regarding spending control, Rijo Presbot spoke about improvements to the Budget programming module and highlighted as a significant achievement the prohibition of transactional agreements by incumbents and institutions, which, according to Rijo, represented one of the most corrupt mechanisms in the Dominican Republic. “Accounts payable were reduced by 174 million pesos in 2010. Last year, from January to August 14, 62 billion pesos were paid, of which approximately 32 billion did not go through the regular channels, not even through the Comptroller General's Office, and we have eliminated this,” stated the Budget Director. He affirmed that an article has been added to the Budget Law prohibiting this practice and stipulating that any official who incurs administrative debt due to a lack of resources will be liable for it with their personal assets. Updated and Available Budget Execution: Rijo Presbot pointed out that never before has the execution of state resources been made so readily and up-to-date to the public through this information. “We have positioned ourselves at the forefront of international best practices and now publish the Budget execution report weekly on the institutional website,” he affirmed. He stated that DIGEPRES has encouraged citizen participation and social oversight with initiatives such as Citizen Budget, which offers a more streamlined explanation of the General State Budget (PGE), and Citizen Encounters, which facilitate engagement with organized civil society. Regarding the event: The International Dialogue on Transparency and Integrity of the OECD-IDB Public Network of Latin America and the Caribbean is an annual meeting held to share best practices in transparency, ethics, and integrity. The forum brings together high-level international experts who seek to promote better public policies, economic growth, and the prevention and control of corruption.
Budget Director: “The economic recovery in the Dominican Republic is a reality”
Rijo Presbot participated as a speaker at the International Public Budget Seminar and highlighted economic growth of 12.71% despite the Covid-19 pandemic. “Budgetary Effects of the Pandemic on Health Systems, the Economy, and Education” was the central theme of the 48th International Public Budget Seminar, in which the Director General of the Budget, José Rijo Presbot, participated as a guest speaker. During the virtual event, organized annually by the International Public Budget Association, Rijo Presbot emphasized the efforts of President Luis Abinader's administration to reactivate the Dominican economy and tourism, recover jobs, and boost productive sectors despite the pandemic. Rijo Presbot stated that the cost of the pandemic's effects was the most significant factor impacting the economy, amounting to approximately US$18 billion, equivalent to 23.41% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He also stated that the GDP contracted by 6.71%, a situation that resulted in between 400,000 and 500,000 unemployed, with the productive sectors being the most affected. “With the pandemic, the effort we have had to make has truly been significant, but a comprehensive plan has been developed that, for us, represents the peak of recovery that the Dominican Republic has achieved,” he noted. He also praised the government's investment in healthcare, particularly in the National Vaccination Plan, the provision of supplies, the establishment of intensive care units and treatment centers, and the creation of a nationwide network of over a thousand centers staffed by volunteers. “The entire vaccination plan is what has allowed the Dominican Republic, as of October 30, to boast a tourism level of 4.8 million foreign visitors, and this investment in health has enabled approximately 621,000 people in the population to receive two doses of the vaccine, and of those, more than 201,000 have received three doses. This gives us a greater opportunity to reopen the Dominican economy,” stated Rijo Presbot. According to the Budget Director, and based on the latest study by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD), “as of September, the economy had registered an increase of 12.71% (TP3T). Furthermore, productive sectors such as hotels, bars, and restaurants have responded with a growth of 31.81% (TP3T) between January and September; construction has grown by 301% (TP3T); the free trade zone by 241% (TP3T); infrastructure by 311% (TP3T); and commerce by 111% (TP3T). In other words, the economic reactivation in the Dominican Republic is a reality.” Regarding education, Rijo Presbot highlighted the continuous and committed effort in support of education, noting that a virtual, hybrid, and distance learning strategy was designed to salvage the school year. This strategy included providing technological equipment to students and contracting media outlets to ensure wider reach. “The effort of the entire educational structure to try to salvage the school year has been continuous and committed, from teachers to parents and friends of the schools,” he emphasized. Regarding the Seminar: The 48th International Seminar on Public Budgeting, organized by the International Association of Public Budgeting (ASIP), also included speakers from Uruguay, Panama, Guatemala, Argentina, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. ASIP, headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, held this seminar virtually with an audience of officials and specialized technicians working in the areas of public finance and budgeting. This year, the central theme was addressed by the speakers from the perspective of ASIP's member countries.
The government submits the 2022 General State Budget Bill to the National Congress for approval.
Twelve of the 22 ministries will see reductions in their budget allocations to create the necessary budgetary space to increase funding for priority programs in Santo Domingo. The Executive Branch today submitted to the National Congress, for its review and approval, the draft General State Budget Law for 2022, which contemplates total expenditures for the Central Government amounting to RD$1,155,565.3 million, of which total expenditures are projected at RD$1,046,280.7 million and financial applications at RD$109,284.6 million. The legislative bill was delivered by the Minister of Finance, Jochi Vicente, and the Director General of the Budget, José Rijo Presbot, to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco Osoria, in accordance with Article 233 of the Constitution of the Republic and Article 34 of the Organic Budget Law for the Public Sector No. 423-06. The bill includes a significant effort to prioritize public funds to support the recovery and relaunch of the national productive sector. Tax revenues for the Central Government in 2022 are projected at RD$1,871,485.9 million, equivalent to 14.9% of the estimated GDP for the year. During the ceremony, Vicente explained that this budget projects a deficit for the Central Government of 3.0% of GDP, in line with the consolidation of fiscal accounts undertaken by the current administration to maintain a sustainable debt trajectory. It is noteworthy that 12 of the 22 ministries will see reductions in their budget allocations compared to 2021. This will create the necessary budgetary space to increase funding for other programs defined as priorities, following the strategy of targeted spending to support the economy's recovery without generating additional financing needs. The Minister of Finance also stated that there are other urgent priorities for the country in the areas of health, social protection, citizen security, and infrastructure projects. These are part of the fiscal reorganization proposal that the Government will present in October for public review and discussion, before its subsequent submission to Congress. The Director General of the Budget explained that the expenditure programming for the 2022 fiscal year has the fundamental purpose of ensuring the country's inclusive and sustainable development, prioritizing the main needs of its citizens. Salary Increase for Police and Military Personnel: The bill includes increases in the budget allocations of the Ministries of the Interior and Police and of Defense, reaching amounts of RD$1,509,182.2 million and RD$1,821.3 million, respectively. This is primarily due to the salary increases for police and military personnel and to provide resources to strengthen the Citizen Security Plan by modernizing the infrastructure, equipment, and technology of national defense institutions. Social Protection and Security: The bill allocates RD$1,500,939.6 million for the universalization of social security through the National Health Insurance (SENASA). This initiative aims to increase enrollment to over 5.8 million Dominicans in the subsidized family health insurance program and 1.2 million in the contributory program. Similarly, it proposes the continuation of the "Supérate" program, which doubles the per capita funding provided by assistance programs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this framework, the "Aliméntate" program, which replaces "Comer es Primero," has a planned allocation of RD$1,446,730 million to provide conditional cash transfers to eligible households. Investment Projects: The planned capital expenditure includes the execution of high-social-return projects such as the construction of aqueducts and wastewater treatment plants, expansion of electrical grids, construction and expansion of educational facilities, repair and remodeling of hospitals and childcare centers, and the plan for repairing and constructing new homes to reduce the housing deficit. The largest proportion of investment project spending will be concentrated on improving the intra- and interprovincial road network to facilitate the transportation of people and goods, which is essential to catalyzing private investment. RD$16 billion will be allocated for the development program of the physical infrastructure of streets and avenues and another RD$5,600 million for the increase of transport capacity and the construction of sections in the lines of the Santo Domingo Metro.
DIGEPRES provides training on how to formulate a Multi-Year Budget for the first time and presents improvements to SIGEF
Improvements to the Financial Management Information System (SIGEF) include modules for formulating revenue estimates and expenditure projections. The General Directorate of Budget, through the Standards and Methodologies Department of the Directorate of Quality and Evaluation of Budget Management, conducted training sessions on the “Formulation of the 2022-2024 Physical-Financial Preliminary Budget,” with the objective of providing assistance and support for the annual and multi-year formulation of the preliminary drafts that comprise the General State Budget. This is the first time that DIGEPRES has provided training to comply with the provisions of Article 13 of Law No. 423-06, which establishes the preparation of the Multi-Year Public Sector Budget. DIGEPRES, as the governing body that regulates and manages the administration of the State Budget, is disseminating the general guidelines for each government entity to prepare its preliminary budget. Improvements were also made to the formulation module of the Financial Management Information System (SIGEF) to include the ability to register revenue estimates and expenditure projections with a multi-year horizon. The training sessions were held over five days at the DIGEPRES facilities and were attended by more than 600 employees from 155 entities and agencies of the Non-Financial Public Sector, as a way to ensure compliance with budgetary policy and the proper use and management of public resources. These sessions are conducted with the objective of achieving continuous improvement in the transfer of budgetary knowledge so that each government agency prepares a draft budget that is realistic and aligned with sound planning, thus reducing the number of modifications required during the execution of the 2022 fiscal year. According to the budgetary policy, approved by President Luis Abinader and the Council of Ministers, the deadline for registering draft budgets from state entities and agencies is September 3. The Executive Branch will present the General State Budget Bill to the National Congress on October 1st.
DIGEPRES receives gold medal at National Public Sector Quality Award
The General Directorate of Budget (DIGEPRES) has been awarded the gold medal at the National Award for Quality and Promising Practices in the Public Sector, for having reached the quality standards, according to the parameters used to measure the services that the institution offers to citizens.
The best way to commemorate the birth of the patriot Juan Pablo Duarte is by acting with transparency.
The Director General of the Budget, economist José Rijo Presbot, stated today that the best way to commemorate the birth of the patriot Juan Pablo Duarte is by acting with transparency, as demonstrated in his historic accountability report upon his return from his trip to Sabana Buey, Baní, where General Pedro Santana was camped.
DIGEPRES AGREES WITH SENASA TO EXPAND HEALTH COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH SUPPLEMENTARY PLANS
Santo Domingo. With the purpose of benefiting the employees of the General Directorate of Budget (DIGEPRES) affiliated with the Contributory Regime of the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), both institutions signed an insurance contract that seeks to expand the basic coverage of medical services through the complementary and optional coverages offered by the State ARS.
