SANTO DOMINGO.– Teodoro Tejada, former president of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA), denied that construction defects are a “pandemic” in the Dominican Republic, as architect Edgar Martínez considered it.
Tejada's reaction comes after a publication made last Friday in El Inmobiliario, where Martínez stated that: "The other pandemic in the Dominican Republic is the vices of construction," referring to incidents such as the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub and the collapse of buildings in Santiago and La Romana.
In response, Tejada clarified: “Architect Edgar Martínez is referring to construction defects in the country as a pandemic. With all due respect, I understand that the term used is not the most appropriate, since 'pandemic' refers to the spread of viruses worldwide, as was the case with the COVID-19 coronavirus.”.
The engineer also added: “While it is true that in recent years, mainly in 2025, there were collapses that worried the public, such as the Jet Set case, the bridge that connects Yemasa with Don Juan, the collapse in La Romana and previously the one in San Cristóbal in an apartment building, it is important to make some clarifications,” he emphasized.
“More recently, there was a collapse at the maternal and child hospital being built in Azua by the National Health Service,” the specialist added
Institutional responsibilities
Tejada indicated that the National Health Service should not be in charge of hospital construction. “These infrastructures should fall under the Ministry of Housing (MIVHED), which is different from the model applied to school construction, which is the responsibility of the General Directorate of School Infrastructure (DIE), an entity composed entirely of highly trained engineers,” he explained.
He also maintained that the DIE builds schools, not hospitals. In contrast, the National Health Service is an entity dedicated to implementing health programs in the Dominican Republic, and its governing body is the Ministry of Public Health. “This is very different from having a department or a general directorate of specialized engineering,” he stated.
Regulations and supervision
The former president of CODIA emphasized that it is incorrect to claim that there is a pandemic of construction defects in the country. "However, it is important to note that Law 160-21 empowers the Ministry of Housing, through its Directorate of Plan Interpretation, which was transferred from the Ministry of Public Works," he recalled.
He added, “What has been the innovation in this process? Minister Carlos Bonilla implemented courses and certified private supervisors and inspectors. All projects with permits approved by the Housing Ministry's Plan Interpretation Department meet the established technical requirements.”.
Context
Last Friday, January 2nd, El Inmobiliario published statements by architect Edgar Martínez, who urged action against construction flaws in the Dominican Republic, warning that structural incidents recorded during 2025 revealed weaknesses in professional supervision and the application of current regulations.
The specialist argued that collapses, explosions, and structural failures that occurred in different parts of the country reflected accumulated deficiencies in construction processes and in the technical control mechanisms applied in the sector.
Martinez described the construction defects as a persistent structural problem and a threat to public safety.
“The other pandemic in the Dominican Republic is the vices of the construction industry,” he said.
