Delays of up to 24 months in authorizations from the Ministry of Environment halt investments, slow development and affect thousands of families waiting for their homes.
SANTIAGO, RD-The Cibao Housing Developers and Builders Association (Aprocovici) expressed its deep concern and dissatisfaction yesterday, Tuesday, with the inefficient and bureaucratic handling of environmental authorization processes by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA), noting that this situation represents the biggest obstacle to the formal start of real estate and construction projects in the region.
In a statement, the construction industry association of the northern region indicated that without the initial environmental authorization, no other technical, fiscal, or legal process can move forward. “Environmental permits, in practice, are the starting point for activating the entire chain of procedures for a project: building licenses, professional contracts, tax registrations, among others. What should be a validation step has become a barrier that hinders the dynamism of the sector with the greatest multiplier effect on the national economy,” stated engineer Sandy Rodríguez, president of the association.
He said that what should be resolved within 30 to 60 dayshas become an administrative ordeal, with waits extending for up to 24 months without clear answers, even when the files are complete and have favorable impact assessments and technical recommendations.
"This stagnation is paralyzing investments, postponing jobs, and putting thousands of housing solutions on hold throughout the Cibao region. This region represents 38% of the total contribution of the construction sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the largest contribution nationwide in this strategic industry," the engineer stated.
The association stated that several members of Aprocovici from Santiago, Puerto Plata, and other provinces in the Cibao region have expressed their frustration with the inefficiency of the process, calling it unacceptable that they are forced to make multiple calls without receiving any response. They emphasized that in many cases, they have had to travel repeatedly to Santo Domingo, "begging for an appointment," just to obtain basic information about the status of their applications. "This lack of accessibility and institutional response not only delays projects but also undermines confidence in a system that should facilitate—not obstruct—the responsible and regulated development of the country," the association stated.
“At Aprocovici, we firmly believe that environmental protection and orderly urban growth are not opposites, but perfectly compatible. However, to achieve this, the process must be efficient, systematic, and fair. Environmental permitting cannot continue to be a barrier; it must become a bridge to the sustainable development that the country needs,” Rodríguez concluded.
It proposes solutions
As part of its call for urgent reform of environmental permitting processes, the Cibao union demands the optimization of the regional department of the Ministry of Environment in Santiago, which should have the operational capacity to effectively and in a decentralized manner serve the entire Northern region and the authority to issue environmental permits, establishing guaranteed response times under a system of public traceability.
Furthermore, the Association raises the need to appoint competent professionals who can provide direct assistance to users and offer clarity on the technical or administrative reasons that are holding up the files.
Finally, it suggests the formation of an inter-institutional technical committee with the participation of the private sector, which would expedite pending cases and work on structural solutions that strengthen the efficiency of the system.
