In Santo Domingo, a recent wave of confusion among residents of the National District’s Naco sector over unprompted building inspections has been resolved by the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), the country’s leading public body for seismic risk management. The agency has confirmed that the teams spotted carrying out structural assessments in the area were affiliated with the Dominican Network of Structural Evaluators (REED), a national technical program focused on upgrading the Dominican Republic’s seismic preparedness and structural safety standards.
According to an official statement from Onesvie, the Naco sector activity was not a random or unauthorized operation, but a supervised field training exercise for students enrolled in the institution’s specialized Building Evaluation Diploma. This credential program was created to build a skilled workforce of structural engineers and construction professionals capable of accurately identifying seismic vulnerability across the country’s building stock.
Onesvie further detailed that the field practice, conducted between May 12 and 15, was strictly limited to external visual surveys of building exteriors. At no point did participants enter private residential or commercial properties, nor did they carry out any modifications, structural alterations, or invasive testing on the structures they observed. All participants carried official institutional identification throughout the exercise to verify their affiliation with the program, the agency added.
The clarification comes after out-of-context misinformation spread across local community networks, leading some Naco residents to link the technical training activity to unrelated government or private operations, sparking unnecessary uncertainty and concern among local property owners.
In its statement, Onesvie reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to transparency, public safety, and proactive national seismic prevention work. The agency stressed that continuous technical training and widespread structural evaluations are critical investments that save lives and protect critical national infrastructure from the impact of potential seismic events.
To further expand public access to seismic safety resources, authorities also issued a call to action for Dominican citizens who are interested in obtaining a free professional building evaluation. Those seeking the service are encouraged to reach out to Onesvie through its verified official communication channels and digital platforms to access accurate guidance and process requests.