Chamber of Deputies approves establishment of Dominican Institute of Meteorology

Santo Domingo.- During its regular session yesterday, the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill in its second reading, paving the way for the establishment of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet). This institute will replace the National Meteorology Office (Onamet) and will operate under the umbrella of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The legislation will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. Its primary objective is to establish Indomet as the regulatory authority responsible for meteorological and climatic activities and information across the country. The bill was spearheaded by Perremeist deputy Gilberto Antonio Balbuena Arias and had been previously introduced but failed to gain traction in Congress.

Indomet will function as an autonomous and decentralized entity of the Dominican State, endowed with legal personality and enjoying administrative, financial, and technical autonomy. It will be tasked with designing and implementing meteorological and climate policies nationwide.

The rationale behind transitioning from Onamet to Indomet lies in the need to modernize legal provisions, enabling the creation and implementation of effective public meteorology policies. This move is crucial for advancing the well-being of the population and various productive sectors, notably the nation’s tourism industry.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will oversee the operations of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology to ensure compliance with the provisions outlined in the legislation.

In other legislative proceedings on Wednesday, the Chamber of Deputies also approved a bill in its initial reading. This bill addresses the judicial declaration of death for individuals who went missing as a result of the explosion in the old market of San Cristóbal on August 14th. The initiative, put forward by Representative Ydenia Doñé from San Cristóbal, aims to provide closure to the families of the missing individuals who were unable to recover their remains amidst the tragedy’s aftermath.