Ito Bisonó takes on the core of housing policy with major structural and operational challenges, at a critical moment for security.
SANTO DOMINGO – The appointment of Víctor “Ito” Bisonó as Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), through Decree 3-26, places the experienced political leader and businessman at the head of one of the most sensitive portfolios of the Dominican State, in addition to its budgetary and social weight, due to the immediate context in which it occurs: a sector marked by recent structural failures, regulatory pressure and a persistent housing deficit.
The MIVHED, created in 2021 through Law 160-21, concentrates strategic competencies ranging from the construction of social housing, through public building, to the technical and regulatory supervision of the built environment.
Bisonó takes over the institution at a point where management can no longer be limited to carrying out works, but must rebuild institutional trust.
A budget with execution challenges
For the year 2026, the General State Budget allocates RD$25,212.7 million to the Ministry of Housing and Buildings, one of the most relevant items within the capital expenditure of the central government, destined mainly for social housing programs, habitat improvement, construction and maintenance of public buildings, as well as urban development initiatives.
The magnitude of the budget places this agency as a key player in boosting the construction sector, but it also exposes a challenge: the capacity for effective execution, since, although it is only 5 years old, historically the portfolio has faced delays in administrative processes, technical certifications and disbursements, factors that directly affect the timely delivery of works and the citizens' perception of efficiency.
The MIVHED budget is equivalent to approximately 34% of the budget allocated to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) for 2026, and for the new administration, the challenge is not only to spend, but to spend well, with traceability, measurable impact, and verifiable technical standards.
Permits, inspections and supervision
One of the critical issues in the country's housing and building system is the management of permits and technical supervision, a process that involves, in addition to MIVHED, the municipalities, the Ministry of Tourism, the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (Codia), Onesvie and other sectoral bodies.
The implementation of figures such as urban managers, integrated into the ministry since last year, seeks to expedite the processing of building permits, receive, review and manage the processing of plans and applications for the issuance of building permits, in the zones or areas that the Mivhed has determined as its jurisdiction and that is accredited and enabled for such purposes.
However, the challenge lies in ensuring that speed does not replace technical rigor, especially in light of the collapses that occurred during 2025.
During the “Real Estate Forum: Square Meters, a Safe Investment”, held last September, representatives from the construction sector, developers, urban planners and regulatory specialists agreed on the need for greater transparency and predictability in permitting processes.
Experts pointed out that inconsistent criteria, a lack of traceability in permit applications, and variable processing times for licenses create uncertainty, increase project costs, and hinder urban development planning. In this context, they called for clear rules, defined deadlines, and greater accountability from the agencies responsible for authorizing and overseeing construction.
At the same time, adjustments to Law 160-21 have been proposed, aimed at strengthening inspection powers, expanding the scope of permits, and reinforcing the sanctions regime. Discussion of these reforms is now more urgent, given a public that is increasingly aware of the risks associated with poorly supervised buildings.
Housing deficit and urban pressure
Beyond the current security situation, Bisonó is taking over an institution responsible for addressing a structural housing deficit, estimated by the previous minister at 1.4 million homes, both in quantitative and qualitative terms.
Rapid urban growth, informal land use, and the concentration of services in metropolitan areas are identified as key factors in the supply of decent housing, especially for low- and middle-income sectors.
Housing policy requires not only building more units but also better planning, integrating access to services, mobility, climate resilience, and urban sustainability. In this regard, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MIVED) must strengthen its collaboration with the private sector, financial institutions, and local governments.
Structural safety
The year 2025 marked a turning point in the public debate on structural safety in the Dominican Republic. Several high-impact incidents highlighted accumulated deficiencies in inspection, control, maintenance, and regulatory compliance—aspects that now play a leading role in the agenda inherited by the new minister.
The most serious incident was the collapse of the roof of the Jet Set nightclub, which occurred on April 8, 2025, in Santo Domingo, during an artistic event. The collapse caused 236 deaths and more than 180 injuries, becoming the most severe structural disaster recorded in the country in decades.
Preliminary technical investigations pointed to overloads exceeding the structural capacity, accumulated modifications to the original building, constructed in 1973, and a lack of adequate reinforcements according to its actual use.
The impact of the event transcended the human and legal aspects. It reopened the debate on existing buildings, changes of use, periodic inspections, and shared responsibilities between owners, municipalities, and state technical bodies.
This incident was followed by others during the same year. In June 2025, the Denis Commercial Plaza project in Santiago partially collapsed. Construction had already been halted by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Housing (MIVHED) for operating without the required permits. Although no injuries were reported, the case reinforced concerns about private construction projects being carried out without effective oversight.
In December 2025, the partial collapse of the roof under construction at the Azua Maternal and Child Hospital, a large-scale public works project, forced a review of technical supervision protocols in state projects.
As an institutional response, the National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie) intensified its actions, reporting more than 1,300 structural evaluations carried out between 2020 and November 2025, with special emphasis on buildings for public use and high flow of people.
This context makes structural safety one of the unavoidable axes of the management that Bisonó begins, not as a reactive issue, but as a permanent public policy.
The challenge of rebuilding trust
With a political career spanning more than three decades and experience in regulatory management, Ito Bisonó faces a complex challenge : balancing social urgency, technical pressure, and political expectations. The ministry he will lead not only builds houses and hospitals, but also regulates the built environment where daily life unfolds.
