During a demonstration by the Puerto Rico Federation of School Transporters, Eddie Charbonier, chair of the House of Representatives’ Finance Committee, called for an evaluation of management inside the Department of Education (DE) so the agency can pay its service providers. He described it less as constructive criticism than as a request for management and organization, saying the governor’s chief of staff could address it.
He said the transition to the ERP system, which he acknowledged was needed, has been poorly implemented: "Se hizo mal desde el principio." He said agency heads failed to show the needed communication and commitment, and that those in charge of each agency’s payment and contract registration should have attended trainings but, according to his information, did not.
Charbonier insisted agency heads and the Office of Management and Budget (OGP) must meet to get the ERP system working so payments can go out. He said the Oversight Board does not have to be behind officials telling them what to do, and that showing Puerto Rico can govern well is part of exiting the Board, beyond four consecutive budgets; blaming the Board or OGP cannot be a constant excuse, and lawmakers end up acting as mediators.
On Monday he is holding a public hearing where Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés is summoned to discuss a resolution investigating the budget and salary adjustments under the Classification and Compensation Plan for teaching and non-teaching staff. Public Affairs Secretary Jean Peña Payano reiterated Ramos Parés’s earlier statements, saying the transporters had requested a meeting at OGP.