DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader has appointed engineer Jhael Isa Tavárez as the new executive director of the Office for the Reorganization of Transport (Opret), according to Decree No. 652-25. The announcement comes after the backup power systems of the Santo Domingo Metro System failed following a national blackout on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 that impacted most of the country from 6 to 14 hours. The Opret reported that the power backup systems were under maintenance.

Rafael Antonio Santos Perez, the replaced Opret director, calling in to Hoy Mismo, the Wednesday after the blackout, explained that the Santo Domingo Metro has 18 power plants with 2.2 megawatts each, but these were under maintenance at the time of the blackout.

The Presidency says the removal of the director is part of a sweeping reorganization of institutions linked to the nation’s Integrated Transportation System, aiming to optimize the planning, operation, and sustainability of mass public transit across the...