The short version
- NotiCel, El Vocero and Impacto Media report that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed Executive Order OE-2026-056 ending the price freeze on essential products and services
- The measure takes effect immediately due to recent rains that improved reservoir levels and reduced drought coverage, according to El Vocero and Impacto Media
- El Vocero cited the U.S. Drought Monitor showing moderate or worse drought now at 34.66% of Puerto Rico, down from 41.67% the prior week
- The drought emergency declaration and water conservation measures remain in effect per NotiCel, El Vocero, Metro Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Día and Impacto Media
Updates
Update, Nov 13, 2:22 PM AST
Impacto Media adds details on the governor's rationale and confirms immediate effect of OE-2026-056.
Impacto Media reported that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed Executive Order OE-2026-056 on Friday to lift the price-freeze provision of the drought emergency order because of increased rainfall and higher reservoir levels. Impacto Media reported
The Department of Consumer Affairs will issue an administrative order ending the freeze, while all other drought measures—including conservation, priority water use, inter-agency coordination and emergency purchases—remain in force, according to the outlet.
Impacto Media stated that although recent rains have aided reservoir recovery, the government will continue monitoring precipitation and water levels; the amendment to OE-2026-035 took immediate effect upon signing and does not end the drought emergency.
Update, Nov 13, 10:50 AM AST
New reports from NotiCel and El Vocero add U.S. Drought Monitor statistics showing reduced drought coverage and confirm prior details without contradiction.
NotiCel reported that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed Executive Order OE-2026-056 amending OE-2026-035, lifting the price freeze on essential goods and services while the drought emergency remains in effect. NotiCel reported that the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) will issue an administrative order to formally end the freeze, and that conservation, priority water use, inter-agency coordination, emergency purchases and equipment acquisition measures continue.
El Vocero reported the same executive action and immediate effect, adding specific data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. According to the outlet, moderate or worse drought now covers 34.66% of Puerto Rico, down from 41.67% the previous week, while severe drought fell from 15.16% to 8.83% with no extreme or exceptional categories identified. Abnormally dry or worse conditions affect 50.44% of the territory, down slightly from 51.63%, with an estimated 1,540,130 people in those areas. El Vocero reported that monitoring of rainfall and reservoir levels will continue.
Immediate change to emergency measures
Governor Jenniffer González Colón has eliminated the price freeze on essential products and services that was established during the drought emergency in Puerto Rico. Metro Puerto Rico reported that she signed Executive Order OE-2026-056, which takes effect immediately.
The decision follows recent rains that have helped recover water levels in the main reservoirs. Both Metro Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día stated that the change responds to improved conditions since the emergency was declared.
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Drought emergency continues
The governor's order modifies OE-2026-035 but does not end the drought emergency. El Nuevo Día reported that the Department of Consumer Affairs will issue an administrative order to formally lift the price freeze.
Measures for water conservation, priority use of water, inter-agency coordination, and emergency purchases of equipment and supplies remain in force. Both outlets noted that the government will continue monitoring rainfall and reservoir levels to decide on any future adjustments.
Where the sources differ
All five outlets—Metro Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Día, NotiCel, El Vocero and Impacto Media—agree that Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed OE-2026-056 amending OE-2026-035 to end the drought-related price freeze immediately, that DACO will issue an administrative order, and that the drought emergency and conservation measures continue. Metro Puerto Rico, NotiCel, El Vocero and Impacto Media name the order OE-2026-056; El Nuevo Día refers to the amendment to OE-2026-035. El Vocero alone provides specific U.S. Drought Monitor percentages showing reduced drought areas and the number of affected residents. Impacto Media alone states the order was signed on Friday and emphasizes continued monitoring of precipitation and main water bodies.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify when the original price freeze began, which exact products and services were covered, current reservoir levels in specific numbers, or when the drought emergency itself might be lifted. They also do not detail any new conservation requirements, provide exact dates for the recent rains, or state whether any price gouging complaints were received during the freeze.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published and last updated. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Gobernadora elimina congelación de precios por sequía en Puerto Rico
- Reporting Gobernadora elimina congelación de precios por sequía en Puerto Rico
- Reporting Gobernadora elimina congelación de precios relacionada con la emergencia por sequía
- Reporting Gobernadora deja sin efecto orden de congelación de precios por sequía
- Reporting Gobernadora levanta congelación de precios ante mejoría en condiciones de sequía
- Reporting Gobernadora ajusta medidas de congelación de precios ante mejoría de condiciones de sequía
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Día, NotiCel, El Vocero and Impacto Media all reported the signing of OE-2026-056 and the continuation of the drought emergency; the specific drought-monitor percentages and Friday signing date rest on single sources.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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