La Altagracia — The Senate of the Dominican Republic has approved a bill that would elevate Verón-Punta Cana—currently a municipal district under Higüey—to full municipality status, a move that could reshape local governance in one of the country’s fastest-growing tourist hubs.
The proposal, backed by a favorable report from Senator Aneudy Ortiz, confirms that Verón-Punta Cana meets all legal, demographic, and administrative criteria required to become a municipality. The area has shown substantial growth and already possesses critical infrastructure such as banking institutions, healthcare and educational facilities, power services, and Punta Cana International Airport, which handles more than 4.5 million visitors annually.
If approved in a second reading scheduled for Friday, the bill will face a tight legislative deadline. The Chamber of Deputies must classify it as urgent and pass it in an extraordinary session by Saturday, July 26, the final day of the current legislative term. If not approved by then, the bill will have to be reintroduced after August 16, having already exhausted two legislative terms.
Under the proposed law, the new municipality would be named Verón-Bávaro-Punta Cana Tourist Municipality and include a population of 138,919 residents. It would incorporate the Juanillo area—covering Cabo Engaño, La Salina, La Cuevita, and Suero—as well as El Salado, which includes Bávaro, Cortecito, Cabeza de Toro, Arena Gorda, Macao, and Uvero Alto.
Originally introduced by Senator Rafael Barón Duluc of La Altagracia, the bill had previously encountered concerns regarding tax collection authority and administrative readiness within the proposed municipality. Those issues have since been addressed in committee discussions.
If the bill passes all remaining hurdles, Verón-Punta Cana will officially join the growing list of municipalities in the Dominican Republic, further solidifying its role as a central engine of tourism and economic activity.
