Dominican President Luis Abinader has launched a major government reorganization midway through his second term, appointing new ministers, reassigning senior officials, and accepting key resignations across strategic state institutions. The sweeping cabinet shakeup began on Sunday afternoon, August 16, 2026, through a series of presidential decrees.
The restructuring comes as the administration enters its final two years, opening the countdown toward August 16, 2028, when Abinader is constitutionally required to hand over power. Under Dominican constitutional law, a president cannot seek a third consecutive term, making the performance of his cabinet crucial during this closing stage of his presidency.
The reshuffle reaches across critical operational areas of the state, including foreign relations, housing, transit and land transport, early childhood care, emergency response, civil aviation, migration, port administration, and the electricity sector, alongside new postings in the foreign service.
New leadership at the Foreign Ministry
In one of the most prominent cabinet moves, Abinader appointed Víctor Orlando Bisonó Haza, widely known as Ito Bisonó, as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs under Decree 554-26. Abinader announced the appointment on social media on August 16, 2026. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees the nation's international relations and foreign policy.
Bisonó replaces Roberto Álvarez, who voluntarily resigned after heading the foreign ministry since the start of the Abinader administration in August 2020. Álvarez served as the sole foreign minister during the president's first six years in office. Upon stepping down, Álvarez expressed gratitude for the president's trust and stated that he left with the satisfaction of duty accomplished.
Following his resignation, the Executive Branch named Álvarez as ambassador emeritus in accordance with Article 77 of Organic Law 630-16, which governs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bisonó has held multiple cabinet roles during the Abinader administration. He previously served as Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs before being appointed Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, a position he held for several months prior to his transfer to the foreign ministry.
Leadership changes in transport and emergency management
Major changes were also decreed at the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation, known as Intrant, which regulates national road safety and transport policy. Retired Major General Juan Manuel Méndez García was appointed executive director of Intrant, succeeding Milton Morrison following Morrison's voluntary resignation.
Morrison took leadership of Intrant after managing Edesur Dominicana, a state electricity distribution company, where he served as general manager administrator from August 2020 to July 2024. Upon resigning from Intrant, Morrison described his tenure as one of the most important responsibilities of his life and stated that he left with gratitude, serenity, and the peace of mind of duty accomplished.
Méndez García transitions to Intrant after years directing the Emergency Operations Center, the primary state body coordinating disaster response. His long tenure at the center earned him extensive national visibility during hurricanes, tropical storms, and major weather emergencies. Erdwin Robert Olivares Luciano, who has served as deputy director of operations at the emergency center since 2010, was appointed to succeed Méndez García as director.
Reorganization in housing, ports, and early childhood care
The reorganization extended to the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, where Jean Luis Rodríguez was appointed as the new minister. Rodríguez previously served as director of the Dominican Port Authority, the government entity responsible for overseeing commercial port facilities and maritime trade infrastructure.
To replace Rodríguez at the Dominican Port Authority, Abinader appointed Francisco Alejandro Campos Álvarez as executive director. In addition, Julia Luz Marina Muñiz Suberví was named president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Port Authority, completing the leadership restructuring at the port agency.
In early childhood administration, Kenia Xiomara Guante Valdez was appointed director of the National Institute for Comprehensive Early Childhood Care, which manages government welfare and development initiatives for infants and young children. She replaces Josefa Aquilina Castillo, who was reassigned as Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Miami, Florida.
Appointments across civil aviation, migration, and state agencies
The series of decrees reorganized several specialized state agencies and advisory posts. José Benedicto Hernández Tejada was named executive director of the National Institute of Migration. Julio Peña Guzmán was appointed president of the Civil Aviation Board, while Héctor Elie Porcella Dumas was appointed advisor to the Executive Branch on civil aviation matters and designated as a member of the aviation board.
Mérido de Jesús Torres Espinal was appointed head of the Airport Department, and Mariana Tavárez de Santos was named director of Dominican Agricultural Marketing Markets, known as Mercadom. In provincial development, José Dolores Andújar Ramírez was appointed director of Provincial Development; Andújar previously served as mayor of Santo Domingo Oeste from 2020 to 2024. Nidio Encarnación Santiago, a former legislator, was appointed head of the Executive Technical Unit of Agroforestry Development Projects of the Presidency.
Regional leadership in Santiago and diplomatic assignments
In Santiago de los Caballeros, the second-largest urban center in the country, César Andrés Pichardo Fermín was appointed president of the Board of Directors of the Santiago Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation, the regional public water and sanitation utility. Bernardo Antonio Inoa Pichardo was named as a new member of the utility's board.
In foreign service appointments, Víctor Pichardo Custodio was named consul in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, while Israel Terrero Vólquez was appointed minister counselor in the internal service. Elías de Jesús Brache Rivas was named Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Los Angeles, California, after previously serving in the same capacity in Chicago.
Late night shakeup in the electricity sector
Late Sunday night, past 11:00 p.m., the Presidency announced Decree 556-26, instituting major changes in the energy sector. Joel Adrián Santos Echavarría was appointed president of the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies and coordinator of the Energy Cabinet.
Santos Echavarría, who previously served as Minister of Energy and Mines, replaces Celso Marranzini at the helm of the distribution council. The decree left Marranzini without assigned official duties for the time being.
