President Fernández participated today in the formal reopening of the Dirección General de Tránsito Terrestre. The DGTT is a division of the Ministry of Public Works that is in charge of issuing drivers permits in the DR. Dominicans for several months now have been able to enjoy the efficiencies brought by the new Sistema de Gestión de Licencias de Conducir (SGLC), as well as expedite service at the newly remodelled offices of the DGTT. The government invested RD$17.3 million to remodel the building and RD$29.3 million to equip it with modern technology and furnishings. The new totally computerized systems makes it nearly impossible to falsify a driver’s license. But what Dominicans most enjoy is the speed of the procedure, and the fact that the assistance of third party persons, "buscones" is no longer necessary. As part of the revamping of the department, in addition to the remodeling of the central offices, five branches were set up in Santiago, Puerto Plata, Azua, La Romana and San Francisco de Macorís. In the past, to get a driver’s license, residents in interior communities had to come to Santo Domingo, the capital city. In the country’s two largest cities, Santo Domingo and Santiago, the DGTT has set up six commercial points for renewals.
