Baitoa


Baitoa is a municipality in the Santiago Province of the Dominican Republic. Santiago is part of the northern valley of the country, otherwise known as the Cibao. It was created as a municipality on June 1, 2014. Natives of Baitoa are known as Baitoeros. The population speaks a Cibao dialect of Dominican Spanish.
Baitoa was allegedly founded by Julian Perez Jimenez and two of his brothers in the early 19th century; the brothers originated from the nearby province of San Jose de las Matas, and were the children of Manuel Perez and Maria Francisca Jimenez. This story of Baitoa's origins is based on the Perez family's oral history. Some of the original families of Baitoa include the Perez, Genao, Pineda, Fernandez, and Núñez families.

Education

The first school of Baitoa, Liceo Prof. Gabriel Franco, was founded and named after Gabriel Franco. The school is located near Carretera Santiago Baitoa, the main highway traversing the region. Franco was one of the first educators in the region of Baitoa at the turn of the 20th century. He was the son of Justo Franco and Maria Francisca Núñez, who were originally from the nearby town of Arroyo Hondo. He married Reina Julia Perez in 1883. Liceo Prof. Gabriel Franco is still open today.

Health

The main hospital of Baitoa is Hospital Municipal Antonio Fernandez, incorporated on September 28, 2012.

Politics

On June 28, 2017, the Mayor of Baitoa, Bernardo Lopez, organized a protest in front of the national palace, demanding a clean water supply system for his constituents.

Religion

The local population of Baitoa are predominantly of Roman Catholic origin. One of the local churches is Iglesia San Ramon, or Saint Ramon Catholic Church.

Notable people from Baitoa

Actors