According to data from the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), only about 8% of the $14.7 billion allocated to Puerto Rico for reconstruction projects tied to six natural disasters between 2017 and 2024 has been used—roughly $1.11 billion spent on completed projects out of 29,266 reported damages. The disasters include hurricanes Irma and María (2017), the 2020 earthquakes, Hurricane Fiona (2022), severe 2024 rains, and Tropical Storm Ernesto (2024). Work tied specifically to Hurricane María is 23.62% complete.
Interim COR3 executive director María L. Marín Colón told reporters Wednesday that disbursements represent “progress and execution,” presenting partial, non-itemized data indicating that, as of September 2026, COR3 had reached “88% of total disbursements made in 2025.” COR3 disbursed $1.68 billion in 2025 and $1.49 billion so far in 2026, though subrecipients weren't specified. Marín Colón said about 78% of projects are “in execution,” a category spanning design through completion.
She also disclosed that under the Working Capital Advance (WCA) program—begun under Governor Pedro Pierluisi's administration in 2022 with FEMA approval to advance subrecipients 25% of project funds within 7–10 days—COR3 had to recover money in 2025 and 2026 because some subrecipients (agencies, municipalities, nonprofits) weren't ready to begin executing projects despite receiving advances.