Private sector analyzes amendments to permits bill ahead of House review
Business groups support reforming Puerto Rico's permitting system but raise concerns over maritime-terrestrial zone rules, municipal autonomy and implementation capacity.
The short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that the Chamber of Commerce is still evaluating the maritime-terrestrial zone language approved by the Senate
- Metro Puerto Rico reports the Association of Builders of Puerto Rico supports a single permit but is concerned about changes to the maritime-terrestrial zone methodology
- Metro Puerto Rico reported the United Retailers Center backs the bill for incorporating its long-standing demands but wants proportional fines and binding endorsements
- The Senate approved the 868-page substitute bill with 17 votes in favor and eight against
Senate approval and private sector review
Representatives of Puerto Rico's private sector are continuing to evaluate a Senate-approved substitute bill to reform the Planning and Permits Code with the goal of identifying improvements and proposing amendments for the House of Representatives, Metro Puerto Rico reported. The bill, which contains 868 pages, was approved with 17 votes in favor and eight against.
José “Che” Julio Aparicio Laspina, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico, told Metro Puerto Rico that the organization is still “evaluating” the maritime-terrestrial zone language and has not yet received feedback on amendments approved in the Senate. Aparicio Laspina said the Chamber is working with the Association of Builders of Puerto Rico to submit amendments on the zone.
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Builders' position
Pinsy Rivera Ortiz, president of the Association of Builders of Puerto Rico, told Metro Puerto Rico she is pleased the bill represents “a step forward” and that the group agrees with the code, particularly the implementation of a single permit. Rivera Ortiz added that the Senate “did what they had to do.”
Rivera Ortiz expressed concern about new provisions on municipal autonomy. According to Metro Puerto Rico she said municipalities do not all have the same resources or budgets and that granting them freedom in the revised bill could create difficulties.
Retailers' support and concerns
Alan Taveras Sepúlveda, president of the United Retailers Center, told Metro Puerto Rico he agrees with the approval of the substitute bill because it incorporates demands the group has defended for a long time. Taveras Sepúlveda expressed appreciation that the single regulation must comply with the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act and the Administrative Flexibility Act for Small Business.
Taveras Sepúlveda raised several concerns for the House to consider. Metro Puerto Rico reported that he wants binding endorsements from regulatory agencies for new businesses, proportional fines based on the size of small businesses, and a deadline for the Unified Information System to function.
Where the sources differ
Both Metro Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día reported that private-sector representatives support simplifying the permitting process to facilitate economic activity. Metro Puerto Rico provided detailed reactions from the Chamber of Commerce, Association of Builders and United Retailers Center, including specific concerns about the maritime-terrestrial zone, municipal autonomy, implementation and regulatory processes. The partial text of the El Nuevo Día article only contains a generic introductory sentence and an editor's note and does not supply any of the concrete reactions or reservations.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when the House of Representatives will take up the bill, whether specific amendments on the maritime-terrestrial zone or municipal autonomy will be adopted, or how the government plans to address concerns about implementation capacity and the Unified Information System. The articles also do not detail the content of the Senate amendments beyond the zone boundary and timeline changes.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Sector privado analiza enmiendas al proyecto de permisos para someter a la Cámara
- Reporting Entre respaldos y advertencias: así reacciona el sector privado a la aprobación del proyecto de sustitutivo de permisos
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico supplied all of the specific statements and reactions from José “Che” Julio Aparicio Laspina, Pinsy Rivera Ortiz and Alan Taveras Sepúlveda. El Nuevo Día's available text added only a general observation that commercial, construction and industrial sectors see the need to simplify processes while expressing reservations. The 868-page length, Senate vote tally and core features such as time-bound evaluations and fines rest on the Metro Puerto Rico account.
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.