SANTO DOMINGO.- A group of contractors belonging to the Codiano Institutional Committee (CIC) called yesterday for a rally at noon this Monday, January 12, in front of the Chamber of Deputies, where the bill authorizing the payment of old debts to more than 300 construction businessmen, dating back about 30 years, will be presented.
The Senate of the Republic declared the bill for the recognition and authorization of payment of debt for works carried out since 1996 to be urgent and approved it in two consecutive readings last Saturday, January 10th of this year.
The President of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, acknowledged the reality for many contractors, noting that many of the projects carried out in his province years ago have not received financial recognition from the State.
In this regard, architect Emiliano Familia, representative of the CIC, called on all those involved to gather at noon this Monday to demand the bill's approval before the deputies. "We are making a show of solidarity and asking everyone to join us this Monday at 12:00 noon at the Chamber of Deputies, where the bill authorizing payment of the outstanding debt to CIC contractors, already approved this past Saturday by the Senate, will be presented," the announcement emphasizes.
Senate Approval
In explaining the approval of the legislation, Senator Franklin Romero clarified that it honors the memory of many contractors—some present during the session and others already deceased—who built and delivered works to the State, putting their economic future at risk, and whose work has not been recognized.
“This request responds to the human reality of contractors who years ago carried out projects without receiving any response from the State, despite having fulfilled their obligations. It is a project that restores dignity to those who have borne the cost of this irregularity; it seeks to verify what has happened for more than 30 years with projects that were completed but not paid for,” the legislator emphasized.
The chairman of the Senate's Standing Committee on Public Works, Félix Bautista, presented a detailed report on the project to the full Senate and requested that the initiative be given urgent consideration during Saturday's legislative session. The legislation was reviewed in an extraordinary session attended by 25 senators.
The initiative aims to authorize public administration entities, in an exceptional and restrictive manner, to exempt them from complying with the selection processes established in Law No. 340-06 on Public Purchases and Contracts.
This will allow for the recognition of work carried out without signed contracts or addenda, and the classification of outstanding balances as internal public debt incurred by the Dominican State.
The recognition encompasses projects by the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC), the Ministry of Education (MINERD), the Institute of Housing and Social Assistance (INAVI), and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI). It also includes INAPA, CPADP, the Central Electoral Board (JCE), CAASD, and the National District City Hall (ADN).
In the case of OISOE and INVI, the obligations will be assumed by their legal successor, the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED). Payments will be made after the validations stipulated by law.
A constant struggle
Construction professionals have waged a constant struggle to demand payment of what they are owed. The breaking point for this group of workers was the tragic death of architect David Rodríguez, which occurred almost nine years ago. Overwhelmed by accumulated debt due to the State's failure to pay, he took his own life in an act of despair that shocked the professional community and the country.
Following this tragedy, 302 members of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) came together to form the Codia Institutional Committee (CIC) with the purpose of claiming the money that the State owes them, which amounts to 385 million pesos, according to those affected.
Since its formation more than eight years ago, this committee has faced a series of challenges and obstacles, with disappointing results so far.
The debt accumulated by the Government covers contracts made with various government institutions, including the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), the Office of State Works Supervising Engineers (OISOE) and the Ministry of Education (MINERD).
On the other hand, there is the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA), the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), the National Housing Institute (INVI), the Corporation of the Aqueduct and Sewerage of Santo Domingo (CAASD), among other entities.
