Punta Cana Firefighters Congress Trains in Response Skills

Organized to modernize emergency protocols and strengthen preparedness, the congress brought together national and international fire service leaders. The event focused on improving response capabilities in high-risk situations through specialized training and knowledge exchange.

Participants completed six advanced modules: emergency gender response, passive fire barriers, fire suppression systems, gas systems, vehicle rescue, and elevator rescue. These sessions aimed to improve prevention strategies, fire safety inspections, and technical responses in complex scenarios.

Gender inclusion was a central theme, with emphasis on delivering inclusive, organized emergency responses adapted to the needs of affected individuals, according to the Unión Nacional de Bomberos (UNABOM).

The closing ceremony was led by General Roberto Santos Méndez, director of UNABOM, and Colonel Miguel Ángel Álvarez. Providencia Matos, viceministra de la Mujer, and Magaly González Jimenez, gender officer of the Verón–Punta Cana municipality, also attended, reinforcing institutional support for inclusive emergency policies.

Panama’s delegation, headed by Colonel Víctor Raúl Álvarez and Colonel Margarita Ducreux, included eight senior officials from the Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos. Their participation strengthened technical cooperation and knowledge transfer between the two nations.

The congress concluded with a shared commitment to adopting international standards in emergency response, professional development, and community prevention strategies for fire departments in the region. This is not the first time Verón–Punta Cana has hosted high-level emergency training focused on regional collaboration.