BAITOA, Dominican Republic.- Hundreds of residents of the Baitoa Municipal District yesterday visited Congress to urge lawmakers to pass the Law granting it the status of Municipality as soon as possible, noting that the studies and evaluations conducted over two years concluded that the community meets all the legal requirements and conditions to obtain the status of a city.

The heads of the Baitoa Municipal District Development Association asked the senators and deputies to approve the request, arguing that it would provide more sources of jobs and improve the possibility for development.

Baitoa,o ne of the first communities whose residents emigrated to the United States, has languished since the construction of the Tavera dam, which stemmed the flow of the Yaque river and much of its sources of income.

José Miguel Batista, one of the leaders of the group in three buses that visited Congress, has been an activist Baitoa, promoting activities such as Boy Scouts, community fundraisers and sports activities.

For native Laura Ramona Batista Franco de Cepeda (Lalita), if Baitoa becomes a city there’ll be more opportunities for progress. “The whole town is behind the effort, because we have no water, and if it becomes a city, we can progress; it’s important it’s good, we need it.”

Yet another native, Juan Edilgardo Peña, known as Ambassador of Baitoa, asked Senate president Reynaldo Pared to help the Santiago province town reach that important goal.

“As Ambassador of Baitoa, I want to ask Reynaldo Pared to pay attention to the request of the Baitoeros so that Baitoa becomes a Municipal district,” Peña said, adding that the townspeople would appreciate his diligence.