Puerto Rico House of Representatives Speaker Carlos 'Johnny' Méndez stated that the House will study the Senate-approved substitute bill on permit reform before deciding on the course of action. The bill, over 800 pages long, was passed by the Senate without public hearings, prompting criticism from multiple interest groups. Defenders of the environment and legal experts expressed concerns that modifications to coastal and buffer zone definitions could put the protection of Puerto Rico’s coastline at risk.
The proposed rules have also been criticized for negatively impacting the preservation of vulnerable areas and concentrating excessive power in the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC). Méndez noted that the current permit system is outdated and that reform is necessary to allow for economic development and growth. The Senate-approved bill includes amendments suggested by minority parties and aims to streamline the permit process, which can currently take months or years.
Méndez emphasized that the private sector, not the government, drives economic development in Puerto Rico and that a true reform of the permit system is needed for the island’s growth.