The 911 system is already working!

The 911 system is already working!
Santo Domingo, June 1, 2014

The Dominican Republic celebrated this Friday the launching of the 911 National Emergency Response and Security System, a modern and efficient program designed to care for, protect and serve the public.

The launching ceremony of this new system, which aims to create a new culture in the Dominican Republic about emergencies and security, was presided over by the President of the Republic, Danilo Medina, who was accompanied by the First Lady, Candida Montilla de Medina and other prominent personalities.

The event was held at the headquarters of the new service, located in Avenida Abraham Lincoln, and it was attended by representatives of the 15 institutions participating in the system, government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and other special guests.

Among those who sat at the head table were: the Ambassador of the United States, James Brewster, and the Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan, Thomas Ping-Fu Hou, whose countries made major contributions to make the 911 project a reality. Both diplomats briefly addressed the audience.

The keynote speech was offered by the Minister of the Presidency, Gustavo Montalvo, who has been in charge of the implementation of the project. “The 911 is a system designed from start to finish to take care of the people, because we want all Dominicans to receive the care they need”, said the Minister.

The launching of the 911 system has required an unprecedented effort of coordination. More than 9,000 professionals from 15 institutions, among which are the National Police, Health, the Fire Department and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (AMET), will provide their services through the 911 number. Only regarding the police, the number of officers that are participating reached 5,000 men.

The 911 system also has the support of the Armed Forces who have made ??available speedboats and three helicopters that, properly distributed in the Greater Santo Domingo area, will add their great logistical attributes to carrying out transfers, rescues or evacuations.

Minister Montalvo said that the 911 system is the beginning of a new culture of public service, because through it, these institutions “will serve the public 24 hours a day seven days a week, for the sole purpose of responding to the Dominican people’s needs”.

He emphasized that he has worked hard to ensure a first-class service that is in constant evaluation and improvement. “We are determined that the 911 will be a place for constant innovation and in which quality will always be a priority. For this reason, we have created a unit specifically dedicated to assessing the quality and effectiveness of each portion of the system.

In his remarks, the Minister of the Presidency called on the population to use the service responsibly and added that there would be consequences for those officials who fail to fulfill their obligations and also for those citizens who make improper use of the system.

In turn, the Executive Director of the System, Dalvert Polanco, emphasized the effort that has been made to equip and train the 911 personnel and reiterated his commitment and that of all participating institutions, of providing an excellent service.

The inaugural program also included remarks by the Health Minister, Freddy Hidalgo; the Chief of Police, Brigadier General Manuel Castro Castillo, and by the Head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Brigadier General Juan Gerónimo Brown Pérez.

Among other attendees, the Minister of Defense, Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez, the Administrative Minister of the Presidency, José Ramón Peralta, and the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See, Monsignor Jude Thaddeus Okolo, as well as legislators and other civil and military officials, were present during the ceremony.

After bringing to an end the formal opening ceremony, President Medina cut the ribbon to launch the new system and then toured the modern facilities.