In an opinion column for Microjuris, attorney Rafael Mojica López argues that Puerto Rico’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) has stopped publishing the resolutions and orders it issues on consumer complaints, even though it once did so about fifteen years ago. He notes DACO currently publishes administrative orders, interpretations, and regulations, and its search system shows the procedural status of complaints, but not the actual rulings resolving disputes.
Mojica López cites Puerto Rico’s Open Data Law (Law 122-2019), whose Article 5 requires agencies to make available hearing calendars and published resolutions, adjudications, and determinations, with Article 12 setting a 30-day deadline. He also cites Article 4 of Law 141-2019, requiring proactive, periodic disclosure of routinely produced public documents without needing a request. He further points to DACO’s own organic law, Article 14(d) of Law 5 of April 23, 1973 (3 LPRA sec. 341m), which states that information from DACO investigations is public, except material incriminating the deponent or protected as a trade secret or under federal patent law, calling these exceptions exhaustive.