The reform promoted by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Housing (MIVHED) seeks to reduce uncertainty in project approval processes through greater transparency, digital tracking of files, and standardized technical criteria for the evaluation of works
SANTO DOMINGO. – Modernizing the building permit process has become one of the main priorities of the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), which claims to have reduced administrative hurdles and substantially increased the issuance of licenses.
During a presentation on the first broadcast of the MIVHED en Marcha program, Minister Ito Bisonó spoke about the institutional progress of the entity, highlighting that streamlining permits is a key tool to boost the economy, due to the weight of private investment within the construction sector.
As he explained, the decision to intervene in these processes arose after identifying recurring complaints related to response times, administrative procedures, and operational limitations of a relatively new institution, which inherited powers from several public entities.
"When we arrived, we found many concerns from the sector related to processing, time, processes, and operational capacity," he stated.
The official noted that, a few weeks after taking over, the ministry developed an institutional diagnosis and launched a modernization plan focused on internal reorganization, digitization, technical strengthening and traceability of files.
230 billion approved
As a result of these measures, Bisonó assured that during the first four months of this year, licenses issued registered an increase of 93% compared to previous periods, and according to the figures presented, the approvals granted by the ministry represent investments exceeding RD$230 billion in construction projects.
The importance of these amounts, Bisonó explained, lies in the fact that private investment far exceeds the execution capacity of the state budget and generates a multiplier effect on employment and economic activity.
The data was presented against a backdrop of continued positive indicators in the construction sector. Bisonó cited Central Bank statistics showing economic growth of 6.6% during the first quarter of the year and a 6% increase in cement consumption, equivalent to 1.5 million tons sold.
Security and transparency
Although the term "legal certainty" was not used repeatedly during the presentation, the concept was present in several of the components of the announced reform.
One of them is the creation of traceability mechanisms that allow developers to know the status of their files in real time.
Bisonó presented a digital platform through which users can check what stage their application is at, what requirements remain pending, and if the file is being evaluated by another institution involved in the process.
The initiative seeks to eliminate dependence on intermediaries and reduce administrative discretion, two factors that historically generate uncertainty and tensions between investors and real estate developers.
Transparency is also part of the institutional strategy. Bisonó announced that the ministry is currently working on international certifications related to quality, anti-bribery, and regulatory compliance, while also promoting a Citizen Commitment Charter to establish measurable service standards.
Digitization and new staff
The official insisted that the transformation of permitting cannot be limited to the digitization of forms, which is why the MIVHED began hiring more than 120 professionals, including engineers, architects and structural specialists, to strengthen the technical areas responsible for evaluating projects.
It is also developing a Single Window for Construction, which it reported is more than 50% complete, and an internal evaluation system called NORM, designed to standardize technical criteria in accordance with current regulations.
The official position is that the combination of technology, institutional strengthening, and standardized criteria will contribute to creating a more predictable environment for investment.
A pending issue in competitiveness
Permitting has been one of the most frequent complaints from builders and real estate developers in recent years.
Business and professional organizations in the sector have repeatedly pointed out that the multiple institutions involved in project approvals can lengthen response times and increase costs.
Minister Bisonó says he has maintained ongoing consultations with industry representatives, including associations of builders and developers from different regions of the country, to identify bottlenecks and propose permanent solutions.
The goal, he explained, is to make streamlining permits an institutional policy and not a measure dependent on a specific administration.
Recommended readings:
- Ito Bisonó continues to explain his "formula" to developers, on how he will reduce permitting times
- Improving efficiency in permitting: a priority task to boost the country's sustainable development, says construction entrepreneur
- Permitting: the battle that halted construction projects and ignited debate in 2025
