SANTO DOMINGO. - Building is more than just constructing. It goes beyond laying bricks on a plot of land. It is an activity that involves promoting the sustainable development of a country and transforming society.
With this initial reflection, Hernando Gómez, PMO manager of Cruise On Land International, opened his presentation within the framework of the first El Inmobiliario Forum : Safe Meters, Real Estate Investment Squared , organized by El Grupo de Medios El Inmobiliario .
The economist revealed that, although the Dominican Republic leads the human development index in Central America and the Caribbean, it faces significant challenges in achieving comprehensive development through the implementation of safe construction projects.
Gómez warned that unsafe and poorly planned construction projects are being built in the country – mainly in the suburbs – because “construction in the territory is not carried out in a planned and conscious manner.”.
“There are unsafe and expensive constructions –beware– where it’s not just about building and delivering: it’s about building, delivering and maintaining, because that’s the habit of our people,” the expert explained.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the country's road infrastructure is insufficient, which impacts urban development through traffic congestion, lost time in traffic jams, and the resulting unproductivity.
He also highlighted other essential elements required to consolidate the territory and guarantee efficient services to citizens, mentioning water, electricity, sewage and public lighting.
In that sense, he indicated that clients demand more than just housing: they seek appreciation, well-being, security, and access to quality public services.
Based on these challenges – which the construction sector faces today – Gómez, who is an administrator and specialist in project management, presented in his presentation entitled Pillars of guarantees for safe construction in the Dominican Republic , the way in which these problems should be faced.
“There are global standards that establish how to develop a safe, reliable real estate project,” he said.
He stated that feasibility studies are key to promoting trust and security in project management within the market.
He explained that through these working mechanisms, they seek to respond to a reality that affects society: the number of "projects suspended and abandoned, due to many circumstances.".
He also acknowledged that there are construction projects that are unviable or not feasible due to the lack of application of standards and best practices.
“If I have a collection of methodologies, of management standards, that tell me what the duty is to carry out a legal real estate development, let's apply it,” he advised.
Among the best practices , he pointed out that the management of real estate projects requires pre-investment, investment and post-investment phases.
six rigorous studies are required legal, technical and operational, market, administrative, financial, and impact and risk assessment aspects .
According to the PMO manager of Cruise On Land International, comprehensive urban growth requires a strategy that brings together four key players to align projects with sustainable goals: the private sector, the government, academia, and civil society.
Finally, he acknowledged the importance of developers creating institutional partnerships and alliances that strengthen the planning and execution of projects in the Dominican Republic.
