The Dominican government is planning to implement a national emergency communications plan that will facilitate and enhance instant information dessemination when natural disasters occur. According to the Minister of State for Telecommunications and Broadcasting, Oscar George, the new communication initiative will be known as the National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP).
The telecommunications and broadcasting ministry concluded a 2-day virtual summit attended by key service providers such as the police, fire service, Red Cross, and other major stakeholders. The participants were briefed on the need for NEFT and why instant information dissemination is essential when disasters occur.
According to George, “following Hurricane Maria in 2017, we took up to 48 hours to communicate with the outside world and the whole intention [of NEFT] is to ensure that this doesn’t happen going in to the future.”
He said NEFT will put all stakeholders in a position of readiness and instant action when natural emergencies occur and this will serve to alert people in distant places and save lives in the process. He said the plan will enable everyone to know what parts they need to play when emergencies happen and this will ultimately save time and resources in saving life and property.
“If we are able to coordinate our efforts better, that will save us time, that will save us effort and obviously that will save us resources so that we can be able to communicate in a speedier way and do it in a more timely fashion,” he added.
The NEFT initiative is being designed by an International Telecommunications Union consultant and it will roll out in the next six weeks, George informed.
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