In a meeting with the press, Rafael Castillo signals that he will be a candidate for mayor for the FP

Santo Domingo. -The deputy and member of the political direction of the Fuerza del Pueblo, Rafael Castillo, expressed his gratitude to the communicators of the municipality for accepting the invitation to this meeting, organized on the occasion of the beginning of the new year 2026. Castillo recalled that the meeting could not be held last December due to a health problem, which he has fortunately overcome, and wished all those present, along with their families, abundant health and blessings for this year. During his intervention, Castillo referred to the situation Santo Domingo Este is going through, highlighting the multiple problems affecting the quality of life of its inhabitants and municipal management. Among the most critical issues he mentioned was the 2025 budget execution, with hundreds of millions allocated to sidewalks and curbs, cleaning and maintenance of filter wells, construction and renovation of courts, and other works that, by the third quarter of the year, remained unexecuted. The scattered garbage in the streets was also pointed out, a product of improvisation in the management of the municipality, the persistent problems in the rainwater drainage of several sectors, the chaos in urban transport and the deficiencies in the operation of the markets of Los Mina and El Almirante. He warned about the deterioration of streets, sidewalks and curbs, with sectors that look like real “empty egg cartons”.

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Likewise, he denounced the improvisations and deficiencies in the elaboration and execution of the annual budget, including the municipal participatory budget, the outstanding debts with city council employees, which have been canceled but without the correct payment of their legal benefits, the neglect in parks and sports facilities and the absence of urban infrastructure works necessary for the municipality. Castillo highlighted that all these problems are being studied by a Team of Technicians of the Fuerza del Pueblo, who will present concrete solutions to address and resolve them in due course. In other news, the deputy referred to a bill recently received in the Chamber of Deputies, previously approved by the Senate, which seeks to amend article 21 of Law No. 176-07 of the National District and municipalities again. According to Congressman Castillo, this modification has clientelist purposes, as it would allow mayors and directors of municipal districts to have access to billions of pesos from the budgets for current expenses, payrolls, and superfluous expenses, to the detriment of infrastructure works and essential municipal services. For this reason, the Deputies’ Bloc of the Fuerza del Pueblo will oppose the project, calling it impertinent, harmful, and a promoter of corrupt practices that affect public management and the quality of life of the citizens. Regarding the possibility of a candidacy for the mayoralty of Santo Domingo Este in 2028, sociologist and expert in municipal affairs, Juan López, reported that a team of technicians from the Fuerza del Pueblo is conducting a comprehensive study on the current situation of the municipality and the profile of the next municipal authorities. The result of this work will allow identifying the most qualified and committed people to take on the challenges of the mayoralty and the councilors. López announced that, in the coming weeks, the first to know the results will be the communicators of this municipality, leaders and militants of the party, subtly implying that there is a great possibility that Rafael Castillo will be presented as a candidate for the mayoralty of Santo Domingo Este for 2028. The legislator reaffirmed his commitment to the municipality, to transparency, ethics, and the search for real solutions that improve the lives of all residents of Santo Domingo Este.
January 22, 2026.