Progress in environmental permits modernization is highlighted

Santo Domingo.- Businessman Manuel Estrella highlighted this Thursday the advances in the modernization of the environmental permit system in the Dominican Republic and recognized the management of the Minister of Environment, Paíno Henríquez, considering that firm steps have been taken towards efficiency, digitalization and reduction of deadlines.

During his intervention this Thursday, Estrella explained that the inter-institutional table he coordinates by presidential order has allowed transforming the debate into concrete solutions in terms of permitting, traditionally identified as one of the main obstacles to investment. “Changes must be made so that things work well,” he said, while affirming that he is aware of the honesty of the high levels of the Ministry. The businessman’s support comes weeks after the statements offered at FITUR 2026, where he denounced that the country was facing a network of 131 procedures distributed across 16 institutions, a situation that, according to what he said then, kept projects stalled and affected national competitiveness.

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Among the most relevant achievements, he highlighted the digitalization of environmental procedures, underlining that traceability is key to ensuring transparency and efficiency. Likewise, he indicated that the implemented improvements could reduce some processes by up to eight months, which he described as a significant advance compared to the prolonged response times of the past. The businessman also valued the clarification of the Terms of Reference (TOR), which previously generated technical uncertainty and delays. According to him, having clearer rules reduces discretion and streamlines evaluations without compromising environmental rigor. Finally, Estrella maintained that the simplification of procedures for projects of minimal impact does not imply relaxing environmental protection, but rather streamlining the system. She reiterated that the goal is to consolidate a more agile, predictable, and transparent permitting model that preserves natural resources without becoming a structural obstacle to development.

By Roberto Rodríguez