The Permanent Committee on Border Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies met with Colonel Randolfo Rijo Gómez, executive director of the National Emergency and Security System 911, to review plans aimed at extending emergency coverage and improving security infrastructure in the Dominican Republic’s southern and border regions.
During the meeting, committee chairman Rafael Pérez emphasized the importance of expanding the country’s emergency response capabilities to improve public safety and ensure faster, more effective assistance during emergencies. He said the initiative would help close technology gaps in provinces that still lack adequate coverage.
Border Provinces Identified as Priority Areas
Rijo Gómez explained that the Dominican Republic currently operates more than 6,000 video surveillance cameras nationwide. However, he noted that the country’s border region remains the only area without camera coverage, creating challenges for security monitoring and emergency response.
He said a project currently under budget review would finance the installation and expansion of video surveillance infrastructure throughout the southern border region, including the provinces of Elías Piña, Bahoruco, Independencia, Santiago Rodríguez, and Dajabón.
According to the 911 director, the planned expansion also includes improvements to emergency response coverage and radio communications, providing communities in these provinces with modern tools to respond more effectively to emergencies and strengthen public security.
Lawmakers Back Security Investment
Members of the committee expressed support for the initiative, describing public safety as a fundamental right and highlighting the potential benefits of expanding emergency technology to communities that have historically faced limited access to these services.
Legislators said the project could improve emergency response capabilities while enhancing the quality of life for residents living in some of the Dominican Republic’s most remote and vulnerable areas.
The meeting was held in the Rafaela Alburquerque Hall of the Chamber of Deputies and was attended by committee members and other lawmakers, including Carlos Morillo, Hermes José, Johanny Martínez, José David Báez, Juana Castillo, Llanelis Matos, Luis Castillo, Millys Martínez, Rosendy Polanco, Rubén Peñaló, Carlos Pérez, Jhonny Medina, Fiordaliza Estévez, Shisley López, Juan Medina, Ángela Pérez, Mery Mercado, Manuel De Jesús, Tobías Crespo, and Carmen Wilians.