Havana, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) The People"s Power Provincial Assembly in the Cuban city of Santiago de Cuba approved a budget of 126.8 million pesos (equal to US dollars, according to the official exchange rate) destined to development programs for mountain zones.

This figure, 9.2 million pesos more than in 2004, will benefit activities for education, health, culture, science and technology, social assistance, and community services for more than 70 percent of the territory covered in the Turquino-Manati Plan.

The Turquino-Manati Plan covers 18 percent of the Cuban national territory and includes 49 municipalities in 8 provinces, reaching a population of 700,000 people. It runs 9 hospitals, 9 Polyclinic centres, 331 doctors´ offices belonging to the Family Doctor"s System (an advanced Cuban primary health care system), 5 mothers´ houses, rooms for intensive therapy and rehabilitation, and other sanitary institutions.

There are also may educational institutions in the mountain zones - 629 primary schools, 35 secondary schools, 9 pre-university schools, 7 Agricultural Polytechnic, 5 Special Schools, 11 for adults and one for people who want to learn any trade.