Director of Statistics Office Submits Proposals to Summit for National Unity to Confront World Economic Crisis

Director of the National Statistics Office (ONE), Pablo Tactuk, submitted proposals for consideration to the Summit for National Unity to Confront the World Economic Crisis. The proposals seek to elevate the issues of basic infrastructure for rural development to be considered of national importance as well as the results of the IX National Population and Living Census.

“This need is more greatly felt in the country than in the city. In fact in the rural areas the percentage of these problems is double that of the city.”

Mr. Tactuk said “the census is scheduled for 2010 and it should be declared to be of strategic importance because it is a source of data for the country which will allow for a close look at the population distribution, homes and apartments by gender, age, socioeconomic level and other related variables with the material conditions for existence in each of the geographic areas of the Dominican Republic.”

He pointed out that the census will make precise territorial identification possible of the various aspects that are contemplated in the National Development Strategy and will also allow for, with its updated information, further plans, programs and the efficient undertaking, follow-up and evaluation thereof.

In terms of rural issues, Tactuk said that there are serious problems due to scarcities and shortfall of food on a global scale and that these are also happening in the Dominican Republic. These have been seen by the need to turn our efforts to the countryside and to vigorously encourage agricultural development.

As such, he stressed the need to improve rural education, linking it with the work of the common farmer, with the goal of making the learning/teaching process applicable and useful in the socioeconomic and productive rural environment.

He also referred to health programs, social protection programs, technological advances in the labor field, financial programs and all other aspects having to do with the economy, production and overcoming serious social problems in rural areas.

Tactuk added that “in numerous rural jobs, many of them on the perception of what was expected in recent elections, complaints were based on the conditions of basic rural infrastructure, fundamentally in three aspects: roads and highways, potable water and electricity which appear to be the main problems perceived by the population.”

“This need is more greatly felt in the country than in the city. In fact in the rural areas the percentage of these problems is double that of the city.”

He emphasized that “it is necessary for the country to develop an infrastructure plan in the rural areas,” on roads and highways, potable water and electricity as a way of achieving, together with other measures, the comprehensive development of the Dominican countryside.

The Statistics Office Director congratulated the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández; Juan Temístocles Montás, Economy, Planning and Development Minister and the other organizations involved in the Summit for the initiative they showed in organizing this unprecedented event that involved the participation of all sectors of the country that have been called upon to be involved in the immediate and longer term development of the country.

The Summit for National Unity to Confront the World Economic Crisis seeks to find short-term solutions to problems to be applied in 2009 in the central areas of economy, social services, public management and institutional consolidation. The Summit began on January 28 and will end of February 27, 2009.