SANTO DOMINGO - In response to the growing need for trained professionals to face the structural challenges posed by seismic activity in the country, the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie) certified 161 new structural evaluators through the National School of Risk Management (ESNAGERI) , officially integrating them into the Dominican Network of Structural Evaluators (REED) .
This group, comprised of professionals in the fields of civil engineering and architecturefrom various state and private sector institutions, represents a substantial step forward in the formation of the Dominican Network of Structural Evaluators (REED), a national technical structure that will allow for the evaluation of critical infrastructure before and after an earthquake, reduce structural vulnerability, and, above all, protect human lives.
During the ceremony, Onesvie's CEO, Leonardo Reyes Madera, emphasized that this graduation not only represents an institutional goal achieved, but also the affirmation of a national commitment: “Today we are not simply handing out certificates. We are delivering hope structured with knowledge. Each of these 161 professionals receives a sacred responsibility: to protect life, safeguard buildings, and act with ethics and precision when the country needs them.”
The new evaluators, after a rigorous program of more than 48 hours of theoretical and practical training, were trained in the application of the Standardized Building Assessment Methodology, designed to optimize diagnosis , quantify risk , and prioritize measures . The training included analysis of real-world cases, post-event simulations, decision-making under pressure, and interdisciplinary work.
This knowledge, combined with the social awareness acquired during the process, transforms professionals into active agents of prevention. Their commitment transcends academia: they embrace a national cause in service of public safety and the protection of citizens, notes a statement from Onesvie.
The diploma program was coordinated by Onesvie, with the support of the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and Civil Defense, and with certification endorsed by the National School of Risk Management (Esnageri).
The president of the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and executive director of Civil Defense, Juan Salas, praised the training as a tool for structural change in how the State addresses risk management: “This training marks the beginning of a new era in the resilience of Dominican infrastructure. This effort represents a serious and proactive response from the State to the natural threats we face.”
For her part, Esnageri's director, Dr. Miguelina Tactuk, reaffirmed that technical training goes hand in hand with a more conscious, safer, and more humane country model: "We are committed to continuing to train professionals with a vocation, ready to act before and after an event, and always with life as the priority."
With this promotion, Onesvie now has over 400 certified professionals nationwide, consolidating its strategic vision of creating a solid network of structural evaluators with reach throughout the Dominican territory, strengthening prevention, rapid response and evidence-based decision-making.
The National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie) was created by Decree 715-01 in 2001, with the purpose of reducing seismic vulnerability in buildings, infrastructure and lifelines and proposing corrective solutions.
It works on identifying structural vulnerabilities to prevent disasters, offering services such as seismic assessments, technical diagnoses, consulting, training, and prevention protocols, especially in key infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings.
