Abinader Inaugurates Projects, Oversees Works Across Santiago Province

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic — President Luis Abinader dedicated an educational center, two multi-sport complexes, and the Banreservas Cultural Center in Santiago province on Saturday. The president also oversaw an asphalt paving program in the Los Solares sector, checked on the construction progress of a multi-sport complex and a funeral home in Bella Vista, and met with local business owners and industrialists.

These initiatives, according to the presidency, underscore Abinader's commitment to enhancing infrastructure, education, sports, and culture, while also strengthening ties with the province's productive sector. The projects collectively reflect the government's strategy for comprehensive and sustainable growth in Santiago.

New Sports Complex in Yagüita de Pastor

During a community event filled with enthusiasm, President Abinader officially opened the new multi-sport complex at the Mirador Yagüita de Pastor Club. This facility is expected to significantly improve sports and recreational opportunities for thousands of residents in the populous neighborhood.

The infrastructure, which residents had awaited for over 30 years, was met with applause and gratitude from neighbors, community leaders, and young athletes.

Santiago Mayor Ulises Rodríguez expressed his satisfaction during the inauguration. He noted it was a significant day for his administration and, more importantly, for the community of La Yagüita de Pastor, which had long sought a suitable space for sports, recreation, and healthy youth development.

Rodríguez stated that the combined efforts, supported by the government, are delivering projects like this one, which are transforming Santiago, reaching its neighborhoods, and improving residents' quality of life. The new complex will allow children, teenagers, and adults to participate in basketball, boxing, table tennis, volleyball, recreational activities, community gatherings, and municipal sports programs.

The Yagüita de Pastor complex is a multi-purpose covered facility, constructed with administrative budget funds and executed by the Municipal Public Works Directorate, at a cost of 24,385,034.77 Dominican pesos. Built on a 980-square-meter plot, it features a court area with specialized flooring and paint, along with spectator stands on both the ground and second levels. The government highlighted this project as part of its policy to decentralize sports and create quality public spaces, emphasizing recreation and healthy leisure as key to strengthening social cohesion.

Bella Vista Projects Under Review

Later, the president inspected the sites for a modern multi-sport complex and a funeral home in the Bella Vista sector. These projects aim to expand services and enhance the quality of life for residents in the expansive area.

Accompanied by Superintendent of Insurance Julio César Valentín and cabinet members, Abinader reviewed the plans and designs for both facilities, which address long-standing community demands.

The planned multi-sport complex will serve as a premier venue for recreation, family activities, and athletic training for all ages. It is slated to include basketball, volleyball, and futsal courts, areas for athletics, and an indoor gym.

The proposed funeral home will provide Bella Vista and surrounding areas with a dignified and accessible facility for moments of mourning. It will feature chapels, viewing rooms, and complementary services, aiming to alleviate existing demand and offer higher quality social support. This inspection reaffirmed the government's commitment to integrated urban development and the creation of social infrastructure that prioritizes citizen well-being.

Andrés Durán Sports Complex Unveiled

Abinader also inaugurated the Andrés Durán multi-sport complex in Rafey, a 23,777,672.16 Dominican peso investment. This facility, long-awaited by local residents, represents a significant contribution to sports, community coexistence, and development.

Mayor Ulises Rodríguez again emphasized the community's joy in finally receiving this functional space, noting that while the area had been overlooked for years, President Abinader's presence now ensures that “Rafey no longer feels forgotten.”

The mayor also highlighted how the central government's transformation efforts in Santiago, including major projects like the Teleférico and Monorriel, are also reaching neighborhoods through directly impactful community works. “This covered facility is a living example of how President Abinader's vision for modernization reaches the sectors that truly need it,” Rodríguez added.

The structure was built on a 985-square-meter plot, featuring a court with hydraulic pedestals and fiberglass backboards, along with metal-framed wooden seating. The complex also includes parking, sidewalks, curbs, a street-to-parking access ramp, a multi-purpose roof with concrete foundations, walls, and columns, electrical installations, restrooms, two main security-controlled entrances, landscaping, and various amenities for multiple sports disciplines.

Asphalt Paving Program Supervised in Los Solares

President Abinader later supervised the ongoing asphalt paving and street reconstruction plan in the Los Solares sector of Bella Vista. This work is part of the Program for the Asphalting of Avenues, Streets, and Roads (PROPACC V), spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC).

During the inspection, the head of state reviewed the progress of the road intervention, which covers 11.25 kilometers and a total paved area of 62,500 square meters, encompassing both main and secondary streets in the sector. The project is expected to directly benefit over 5,200 residents who have sought road rehabilitation for years. The intervention represents an investment of 125 million pesos, aimed at improving urban infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life in Bella Vista.

Among those present at the day's events were Santiago Governor Rosa Santos, Senator Daniel Rivera, regional director of the National Health Service Dr. Bernardo Hilario, as well as municipal officials, council members, deputies, business sector representatives, community leaders, and neighborhood associations.