The Ministry of Housing and Edifications (MIVED) authorized the reopening of the mega store Dulce Hogar on Av. Luperon in the National District this Friday, 28 November 2025 after verifying that the business had met all the requirements approved by the Supervision of Private Works Department, under the Vice-Ministry of Norms, Rules, and Procedures. The establishment is regarded as a Chinese business and primarily sells low-cost items imported from China.
Dulce Hogar was among several businesses temporarily closed by MIVED based on Law 687-82. This law mandates that all building occupants and operators in the Dominican Republic must possess a construction license and a final inspection certification prior to occupation and operation.
The director of Supervision of Private Works at MIVED, Edgar Pellerano, confirmed the successful compliance.
“Today, we have verified that everything is in accordance with the arrangements approved by the Procedures Department,” Pellerano stated. “We are therefore issuing the store’s opening certification, as the work has fulfilled all the necessary requirements and demands specified by the Ministry of Housing and Edifications.”
As part of the regularization process required by MIVED, the Dulce Hogar store carried out a series of structural interventions to guarantee the building’s safety.
Key safety works included:
Placement of stiffeners on main beams to enhance stability and ensure proper load transmission.
Reinforcement of beam-column connections using metallic plates to optimize force transfer at the joints.
Correction and certification of all on-site welding, ensuring quality and alignment with technical standards.
Verification, substitution, and adequate adjustment of bolts in metallic connections, consistent with structural design specifications.
The Ministry of Housing and Edifications further detailed that out of the eleven stores closed in September, five—in addition to Dulce Hogar—have already submitted the necessary documentation. This paperwork is currently under evaluation by the Vice-Ministry of Norms, Rules, and Procedures. Permits for commencement of work are expected to be issued in the coming days so these businesses can carry out the corresponding structural adjustments.
MIVED reaffirmed its willingness to assist establishments that have not yet regularized their status, underscoring that the primary objective is to guarantee that all commercial operations meet safe conditions for the visiting public.
While the violations were significant, spokespeople for the Chinese investors in the Dominican Republic protested the mega stores were being signalled out and closed down after being allowed to open for months or years. The Ministry of Housing inspections revealed important vulnerabilities.
The Chinese megastores have also made headlines for violations of labor and tax laws.
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CDN
1 December 2025