“We are not asking for unchecked payments. We are asking for serious vetting, document validation, and fair payment for actual work completed for the State,” said Emiliano Familia
SANTO DOMINGO.- The spokesperson for the Codiano Institutional Committee (CIC), Emiliano Familia, stated yesterday that the bill for payments to contractors approved by the National Congress does not seek to legalize irregularities, but rather to address debts accumulated for works carried out by the State.
Following the changes made by the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies approved last Wednesday in a single discussion the bill that would pay old debts for works carried out with or without a contract, to a group of contractors who have been making claims for more than 30 years demanding payment.
“This isn’t a law for illegal payments. These are projects that have been built, delivered, and are in use by the people. What’s illegal is that the State isn’t paying what it owes. What’s unfair is that engineers grow old waiting and die, as is the case with 18 contractors from the CIC,” he said in statements to El Inmobiliario.
Familia explained that the initiative aims to recognize, clear, and pay contractual debts, while rejecting questions about possible violations of the current legal regime.
“We are not asking for uncontrolled payments. We are asking for serious vetting, document validation, and fair payment for actual work carried out for the State,” he stated.
The spokesperson also expressed confidence that the Executive Branch would enact the law, recalling that the payment of these debts was a promise made by President Luis Abinader before taking office.
He specified that in 2020 the Codiano Institutional Committee was convened to address the issue; however, the loss of documents in various institutions limited the disbursements by the then Ministry of Finance.
New version includes more contractors
Regarding the changes introduced to the bill, he explained that the approved version incorporates contractors linked to removal works carried out by the Ministry of Education (MINERD), in addition to including adjustments aimed at strengthening legal security and material justice.
He also noted that the sources of financing to cover the payments were defined more clearly, one of the aspects that had generated questions in previous versions.
Familia insisted that the project seeks to resolve a historical debt with the construction sector, guaranteeing a transparent and sustainable process.
Changes in the new law
While the previous proposal directly acknowledged a set of debts and ordered their payment to 571 already identified contractors, the new project changes the approach and creates a commission that will have to review each claim before authorizing any disbursement.
According to the project, this commission will have the power to reject applications or reduce the amounts claimed, but will not be able to include new beneficiaries.
Recommended readings:
- Key points to understand the law on payments to contractors and how it clashes with the current legal framework
- Once again, lawmakers hastily approve a law to pay contractors for projects the State left in limbo
- Contractors will go to the Chamber of Deputies this Monday to demand approval of a bill authorizing payment of old debts
