Puerto Rico Morning Brief Friday, October 30, 2026

Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said Thursday, October 29, that the Legislature had already done its part by unanimously approving House Projects 1261 and 1262. The two bills created reserve funds for budget stabilization and public capital, and Governor Jenniffer González vetoed them. Her response followed a letter from the Oversight Board in which executive director Robert Mujica questioned La Fortaleza’s proposal to exempt prepared foods from the sales and use tax for the next two months. Mujica wrote that the two bills represented the permanent safeguard the government had committed to for financing tax relief with non-recurring funds.

Genera PR vice president of Governmental and Public Affairs Iván Báez said the company bears total responsibility for a power outage this week that affected about 160,000 people. Speaking on Normando en la Mañana, he said, "We are going to be transparent."

FEMA announced approval of more than $45 million in post-disaster funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant projects in Puerto Rico. Nearly $44.8 million of it comes under the Public Assistance program. Among the awards, $16.4 million goes to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) for repairs to the sanitary trunk line in Juncos and Gurabo, which Hurricane Fiona damaged.

A study by the Puerto Rico Restaurant Association (ASORE) found that consumers are being more selective about when and where they buy prepared food amid a difficult economy. In the "EAT 2026: New Consumer Menu" survey, produced by the firm Gaither, 79% of respondents said their financial situation could lead them to visit restaurants less often. In the same survey, 71% said their personal expenses are higher than a year ago, and 35% said they are worse off than a year ago. Some 77% rated their finances as "fair" or "poor," and 92% gave Puerto Rico’s economic situation the same ratings.

Ten years after the enactment of PROMESA and the creation of the Financial Oversight and Management Board, the Puerto Rico Economists Association will present a survey of its members’ assessment of the board’s management and impact on the island. The results will be released at the association’s 42nd Annual Assembly, during a panel titled "A decade of PROMESA: effectiveness, achievements and challenges." The panel is scheduled for Friday, October 30, from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Mayagüez & Tropical Casino.

Political analyst Jay Fonseca compared how diesel and natural gas prices have changed since February 2026 and what that means for electric power generation in Puerto Rico. A graph presented on his program shows that diesel has risen 68% while natural gas has dropped 18.5%. The comparison comes as power generation goes through one of its highest-cost periods on the island.