Luis Abinader announces major Dominican government reshuffle

President Luis Abinader has initiated a broad reorganization of the Dominican Republic's government through a series of decrees involving multiple state institutions.

Key leadership changes include the appointment of retired Major General Juan Manuel Méndez García as the new executive director of the National Institute of Land Transit and Terrestrial Transport (INTRANT), succeeding Milton Morrison. Erdwin Robert Olivares Luciano has been named director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), while Carlos Manuel Paulino Cárdenas will lead the Civil Defense.

Other significant appointments include Víctor Ito Bisonó as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kenia Xiomara Guante Valdez as director of the National Institute for Early Childhood Care (INAIPI), and José Benedicto Hernández Tejada as director of the National Migration Institute. In the aviation and maritime sectors, Julio Peña Guzmán was named president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), and Mérido de Jesús Torres Espinal was appointed executive director of the Airport Department.

Separately, the INTRANT reported that its new driver's license issuance system has generated approximately RD$300 million in state benefits over the last five and a half months, reversing previous monthly losses of RD$20 million.