Santo Domingo.- Senate President Ricardo de los Santos reaffirmed his dedication to promoting policies that ensure high-quality education for all Dominican children and young people through legislative action. He made these remarks during a speech at the Loyola Polytechnic Institute in San Cristóbal, where Senator Franklin Rodríguez, with support from the Chinese embassy, distributed 3,500 civic kits to students as part of the “Building Citizenship Thinking about the Homeland” program.
De los Santos emphasized the critical importance of guaranteeing comprehensive education and development for children, adolescents, and young people. “Count on us to create better spaces and more opportunities for developing your talents in academic, sports, and artistic areas,” he told the secondary school students in attendance.
The event, attended by over 2,500 students, featured former Constitutional Court President Milton Ray Guevara, who encouraged the students to “read, live, and love the Dominican Constitution, as it guarantees social justice, progress, peace, and freedoms that drive development.”
The Chinese embassy contributed $20,000 for the purchase of 3,500 chess sets, which were included in the kits along with a copy of the Dominican Constitution, a flag, and a moral and civic pamphlet. “It is an honor to assist in cultivating education in the land of Quisqueya,” said Chen Luning, Chinese ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
Senator Franklin Rodríguez, the driving force behind the “Building Citizenship Thinking about the Homeland” program, urged students to respect the Constitution and strive for success, emphasizing the importance of living, loving, learning, and leaving a legacy while staying connected to God and family.
During the event, William Rodríguez, president of the San Cristóbal Tourism and Production Cluster, presented Senator Franklin Rodríguez with a plaque recognizing his efforts in promoting ecotourism and converting San Cristóbal into an Ecotourism Province through Law 40-23.
Notable attendees included Constitutional Court President Napoleón R. Estévez Lavandier, former Constitutional Court President Milton Ray Guevara, Chinese Ambassador Chen Luning, Deputy and Senator-elect Gustavo Lara Salazar, San Cristóbal Governor Pura Casilla, and Mayor Nelson de la Rosa. Other attendees were Father José Victoriano, Rector of the Loyola Polytechnic Institute; Julián Tejada, Regional Director of Education of San Cristóbal; and leaders from the Dominican Chess Federation and the San Cristóbal Chess Association. Deputies Jaqueline Montero, Saulo Vega, Monserrat Santana, Antonio Brito, Miledys Cuevas, German Martínez, and Frank Junior also participated in the event.