President Abinader urges Congress to prioritize Anti-Corruption bills

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader urged the National Congress to expedite the passage of two key bills aimed at strengthening state control mechanisms in the Dominican Republic. These bills focus on the operation of the General Directorate of Public Procurement and the General Comptroller of the Republic. The proposed reforms include the introduction of sanctioning mechanisms within the Procurement Law to enhance oversight and accountability. Abinader emphasized the importance of prioritizing these bills in the Chamber of Deputies to further support transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

Carlos Pimentel, Director of Public Procurement, echoed the president’s call, highlighting that the bill to modify the Procurement Law is supported by all sectors. He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening control and anti-corruption policies. This legislative push comes in the wake of the announcement that the Dominican Republic will host the 2026 International Anti-Corruption Conference, marking a significant milestone in the country’s global efforts to promote transparency.

Additionally, Abinader called for the prioritization of a bill to bolster the Comptroller General’s office, particularly in relation to audits, to improve the country’s oversight capabilities. The Special Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, led by Deputy Gregorio Domínguez, has already begun studying the proposed changes to the Public Procurement and Contracting Law (Law 340-06). The goal is to introduce stricter sanctions for corruption and strengthen the legal framework governing state contracts. The Senate has already approved the initiative, and the Chamber of Deputies is now gathering input from various sectors before finalizing the bill.