SANTO DOMINGO.-The country's first urban managers, Enrique Aníbal Lié and Julio César Gómez from the Southeast Region; Arcadio Vargas and Mayerlin Minier Recio from the Cibao and South Region, were sworn in by the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (Mivhed), with whose arrival it is hoped that the streamlining of construction permits will be strengthened, one of the weaknesses that affects this sector, a pillar of the national economy.
The initiative, established by Decree 642-22, responds to the need for greater efficiency in the permitting of the construction sector and guarantees more effective supervision of compliance with regulations.
Urban managers will be responsible for receiving, reviewing and processing plans and applications for licenses for the construction, reconstruction and expansion of private buildings, thus contributing to streamlining processes in the sector.
Carlos Bonilla, Minister of MIVHED, led the swearing-in of the first generation of urban managers, a new role created to strengthen administrative decentralization, optimize permit management, and reduce informality in construction.
Carlos Bonilla (center), alongside the sworn urban managers. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
“Today begins a key task for the development of the construction sector in our country. Your work will be fundamental to making processes more efficient and promoting transparency in the processing of plans. We trust in your ability and commitment, because assuming this role is not only a technical responsibility, but also a social and ethical duty to the nation,” said Bonilla, alluding to the importance of technicians within the industry.
For her part, the Deputy Minister of Standards, Regulations and Procedures of the agency, Vivian Reyes, emphasized the impact of this measure on streamlining construction permits and noted that the institution will directly supervise the performance of urban managers to ensure their proper functioning.
Vivian Reyes. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
Likewise, the former president of the Dominican Association of Housing Builders and Developers (Acoprovi), Fermín Acosta, highlighted the relevance of this progress for the sector, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The process
The application process for urban managers was opened in 2023 by the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, and Bonilla, within the framework of the swearing-in of the private technical supervisors, another key figure in streamlining procedures in the construction sector.
The Mivhed establishes that these managers will be under its direct regulation and supervision, guaranteeing transparency, professionalization and legal security in the processing of permits.
The creation of this figure is framed within the National Development Strategy 2030 and complies with the provisions of Law 160-21, which gave rise to the Ministry of Housing and Buildings.
