Puerto Rico Morning Brief Thursday, November 12, 2026

Juan Rosario, administrator of the Public Housing Administration in Puerto Rico, confirmed that 18,832 families are waiting for a lease on an apartment in a public housing project. The wait comes as affordable housing is part of public debate because of inaccessibility and high costs in the market. Rosario added that 840 people holding Section 8 vouchers are also waiting for housing.

LUMA Energy president and chief executive Janisse Quiñones demanded an immediate, rigorous and transparent investigation on Wednesday, November 11, into allegations that attempts were made to influence justices of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court to void the company’s contract. Her statement came a day after attorney and commentator Eddie López said on the TeleOnce program Nación, on Tuesday, November 10, that a source told him the governor had personally phoned justices of the island’s highest court. According to López, the approaches sought to get the justices to change their votes and favor annulling LUMA’s contract.

Puerto Rico Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos acknowledged that a gap in last year’s fiscal budget is currently preventing the department from paying school transportation companies. Ramos put the debt at roughly $5 million. José Rosado, president of the Federation of School Transporters, said the debt for services before the current school year is $9.5 million. He said that including September and October it could exceed $30 million, a figure Education has not confirmed.

Suzanne Roig, secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of the Family, said on Wednesday, November 11, that her two-day absence is due to a personal family commitment she will attend to with her father. She said she had coordinated it for several months. In written statements, Roig said Secretary of Governance Norma Burgos was informed in advance of the temporary absence, as part of established administrative procedures and in compliance with applicable provisions. Deputy Secretary Dr. Evelyn I. Matos Quintana will be in charge of the agency’s operations during the period under the department’s organic law.

Puerto Rico’s Senate voted down House Bill 1115 on Wednesday, November 11, by voice vote. The measure would have eliminated the Minimum Wage Review Commission and returned to the Legislature the power to set future wage adjustments. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said during the debate that the Senate wants the best conditions for all employers and businesses in Puerto Rico but not the worst conditions for the Puerto Rican worker. He said the Legislature should not manage wage adjustments at will, and the commission remains in place.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 Puerto Rico students, including special education students, could be left without school transportation starting Monday, November 16, if some 40 to 50 bus companies stop operating over payment delays from the Department of Education. José Rosado, president of the Puerto Rico School Bus Carriers Federation, issued the warning. He said those companies, among the island’s 225 school bus companies, are owed since April and May. Rosado said dozens of companies may cease operations because some cannot pay employees and others have had their diesel accounts closed.