SANTO DOMINGO.-The Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), and the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) issued statements yesterday establishing that those responsible for the collapse that occurred last week in a building in San Cristóbal must answer to justice for their actions.
The MIVHED reported that it will submit all the evidence gathered to the Public Prosecutor's Office so that those responsible for the building collapse in San Cristóbal last Friday, the 9th of this month, will be held accountable before the justice system for failing to comply with the established regulations, and for the material damages and potential dangers of their actions.
Meanwhile, CODIA asserted that Johnny del Rosario, who was in charge of the project, is not a member of that organization and that he will be subject to the criminal penalties established in Law 6200 regarding illegal practice.
In separate statements, both entities condemned the practice of illegal construction.
The MIVHED urged people who wish to carry out construction work to inform themselves and comply with all the requirements of the current law in order not to risk the physical integrity of the construction workers, neighbors of the area and possible inhabitants of the building.
He said that the builders of the four-story building that collapsed in the Villa Valdez sector of San Cristóbal province did not have a building permit or blueprints.
The state agency explained that, after conducting a supervisory visit on Saturday, the day after the incident, the institution ordered the suspension of construction because various regulations and technical design and safety specifications were not met.
The entity highlighted the use of low-quality concrete in the main columns, the absence of serpentine reinforcement in the masonry walls and of confinement zones in the beams, among other weaknesses.
He added that the project did not have plans or a building permit approved by the MIVHED, and that there is no record of inspection or approval of the project in the official files.
The position of CODIA
The College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) said that the sanctions range from fines of one hundred to one thousand pesos or correctional sentences of ten days to three months, or both penalties, for those who, not being registered owners, engage in illegal practice.
"We hereby state that this board of directors maintains a frontal fight against illegal construction and in defense of the professional practice, which is why we reiterate our willingness to work with government institutions linked to the construction sector to carry out joint efforts to eliminate this scourge," the statement from the codians explains.
