Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – A new chapter began for the country’s national transportation governance on Monday, as retired Major General Juan Manuel Méndez García was sworn in as the new executive director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT).
Méndez García’s appointment was formalized through Decree 551-26, issued by Dominican President Luis Abinader. In his first public remarks after taking office, the new director emphasized that tackling the nation’s persistent traffic and transportation challenges will not be a quick fix, requiring coordinated effort across multiple levels of government, private transport service operators, and the general public.
During the official swearing-in ceremony, Méndez García laid out his core policy priorities: he committed to retaining and expanding the successful, results-driven programs launched by his predecessor while implementing targeted improvements where gaps exist. Beyond institutional adjustments, he called for a nationwide cultural shift around road safety, urging all road users to embrace compliance with traffic regulations as a fundamental civic duty.
In addition to his new role at INTRANT, Méndez García confirmed he will continue leading the Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care Services (DAEH). He brings decades of high-stakes public leadership experience to the transportation post, having previously served more than 20 years at the helm of the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE), where he coordinated national responses to countless disasters and public emergencies.
Eduardo Estrella, the Minister of Public Works and Communications, who administered the oath of office to Méndez García, praised the new director’s long track record of dedicated public service. Estrella reaffirmed that the full support of the Abinader administration will be behind Méndez García as he undertakes the challenges of his new position.
Outgoing INTRANT executive director Milton Morrison extended well wishes to his successor, noting that the agency is being transferred in far stronger institutional shape than when he took office two years prior. During Morrison’s tenure, INTRANT achieved a series of major milestones, including sweeping overhauls of internal procedures and institutional governance, as well as three ISO certifications covering quality management, anti-bribery systems, and regulatory compliance.