Dominican Republic housing minister urges strict adherence to construction safety laws

Dominican Republic's Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, Víctor Bisonó, has urged construction developers to strictly adhere to legal norms and technical procedures to ensure structural safety. This call follows recent seismic activity in Colombia and Venezuela, which officials view as a warning regarding the importance of earthquake-resistant infrastructure.

Bisonó highlighted the ongoing issue of informality in the construction sector, noting that some large-scale projects continue work despite receiving multiple notifications to comply with permits and inspections. To address these risks, the Ministry (Mivhed) is consulting on a new seismic code and reviewing sanctions for non-compliance. The ministry also aims to strengthen inspection mechanisms and create institutional teams to ensure legal consequences for violations.

Data from the Ministry's Permit Modernization Plan shows that 1,122 licenses were granted in the first seven months of the year, an 85.45% increase compared to the same period last year. High-rise buildings and residential projects in the Distrito Nacional, Santiago, and Punta Cana represent the highest demand for permits. These licensed projects represent a total private investment of 406,715 million pesos.