Manuel Cidre Issues Proposal

Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto
Rico
2016

WORK PLAN FOR THE REAL
TRANSFORMATION OF
PUERTO RICO
October 1, 2016

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Dear people of Puerto Rico:
This document is the result of the efforts of many volunteers, who have worked
closely with me. Together we have built a new roadmap for our country, which
proudly have titled: "Work Plan for the Real Transformation of Puerto Rico".
Our vision is: A rich Puerto Rico, a center of knowledge, empowered and responsible;
a Puerto Rico of opportunities for all, which takes care of its elderly and protects its
children; a healthy, educated and safe people, of whom our children and our
children's children can be proud; a country proud of its cultural diversity, which
protects its natural resources, who seeks and works incessantly for a better quality of
life, and where the priority is the well-being of all the people and not the particular
agendas; a Puerto Rico where people from all social, ethnic, and economic
backgrounds can live side-by-side, in peace and with the potential for real and
sustained progress.
This is a dynamic work plan; our intention is not for it to be a straitjacket; that not is
the mission of good ideas. Our mission is continue incorporating innovative and
relevant ideas that can help us develop a tangible and viable work plan for the real
transformation of Puerto Rico. Therefore, this plan will be modified periodically to
incorporate those good ideas contributed by all persons who wish to contribute to our
progress and our future, so that it becomes a true expression of participatory
governance and real progress.
“El Plan para la Transformación Real de Puerto Rico”, the Spanish title of our
plan, does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of Puerto Rico. Your comments
and recommendations will be well received. Please send them to our e-mail address
(manolo@manuelcidre.com).
As Governor of all the people of Puerto Rico, I will fight with all my strength and all my
abilities to make Puerto Rico the country that we want and deserve, for all who were
born here or have decided to someday make this beautiful land their final resting
place.
Manuel Cidre
Independent Candidate for
Governorship of Puerto Rico
INDRODUCTION

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PAGE
I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION &
VISION?
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II. ETHICAL PACT FOR THE UPCOMING 2016 ELECTIONS 6
III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT 9
IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET 13
V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 17
VI. REGIONALIZATION 19
VII. TAXES 21
VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 22
IX. TOURISM 28
X. INFRASTRUCTURE 32
XI. EDUCATION 35
XII. HEALTH 48
XIII. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 51
XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY 52
XV. AGRICULTURE 56
XVI. ENVIRONMENT 58
XVII. TECHNOLOGY 59
XVIII. STATUS 61
TABLE OF CONTENTS

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My name is Manuel Cidre, but many people know me as “Manolo”. I am an administrator, bread
manufacturer and Puerto Rican entrepreneur with more than de 30 years of experience in business
administration. I’m founder of Los Cidrines, one of the main manufacturers and distributors of bread
and bakery products in Puerto Rico.
My commitment to our island has driven me to serve on various community and philanthropic
organizations as well as to be part of several entrepreneurial committees, as will be detailed next.
During the past several years I have been asked to participate in countless conferences and radio and
television talk-shows, to give my opinion on the business situation of Puerto Rico. Many of these
discussions have also dealt with matters of public policy.
I truly believe in the rebirth of Puerto Rico by way of economic recovery and sustained growth. This,
through a plan focused on economic development and governmental transformation.
Today, I call upon all of you to join this great quest to fight for the Puerto Rico that we all need and
deserve; a Puerto Rico that triumphs over pessimism and indifference; a Puerto Rico that recognizes its
weaknesses and values its strengths; a Puerto Rico that stands up and dares to be different.
What is my mission?
To bring into our government administration those methods and practices that promote, in a
measurable way, the effectiveness and efficiency of all agencies and public corporations. To manage
our country with transparency, always being truthful and with accountability on the achievement of
specific goals and objectives.
What is my vision?
To transform Puerto Rico into a prosperous country, with opportunities for its citizens through an
administration that, with a sense of urgency, addresses the more pressing needs of the island. To put
the attention and the loyalty of the government on the wellbeing of Puerto Rico, not in any specific
individual, political party or particular agenda.
Profile of my experience, work, achievements, recognitions and education:
Experience: Organizations:
Los Cidrines Puerto Rico Products Association
Founder Past President – Board of Directors
Upjohn Pharmaceutical Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association
I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION & VISION?

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Pharmaceutical Representative Past President – Board of Directors
Organizations: (Cont.)
Compañía para el Desarrollo Integral de la
Península de Cantera
Past Member – Board of Directors
Agenda Ciudadana
UMET SUAGM – Public Policy Institute
Centro Margarita
Small Business Development & Technology
Center
Past President – Board of Directors
SER de Puerto Rico
Echar Pa' Lante
Recognitions and Awards:
Top Ten Business Leaders of Puerto Rico
Caribbean Business
Citizen of the Year – Private Sector
Caribbean Business
Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Zenith Awards 2010 – Citizen of the Year
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
Héctor Jiménez Juarbe Award
Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association
President’s Special Award
Chamber of Commerce of Ponce & South of
PR
Distinguished Entrepreneur Award
Asociación Hombres y Mujeres de Empresa
Good Neighbor Award
American Red Cross of Puerto Rico
Private Enterprise Excellence Award
Economic Development Company of Puerto
Rico
Entrepreneurship Award
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year
Food Industry Distribution and Marketing
Association (MIDA)
Industrialist of the Year
Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Food Industry Distribution and Marketing
Association (MIDA)
Citizen of the Year
Boys Scouts of America – Puerto Rico
Council
Hall of Fame Business Leader
Caribbean Business
Education:
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
BBA, Finance & Marketing
I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION & VISION? (CONT.)

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This document contains a pact of ethical conduct intended to impact public policy and decision making
in such a way as to guarantee the just and democratic development of our Puerto Rican society.
The main objective of this pact is to ensure a transparent public administration, that places the
COMMON GOOD above any partisan interest.
It also aims to do away with the privileges that have been afforded to the political class, which have
only served to distance the government from its constituents.
For this pact to be feasible and come to life, a real commitment from all sides is needed. The political
parties, the legislative chambers, the candidates for governor, mayors and other elected officials are
needed in this endeavor.
I. Commitments for the Political Campaign
A. Level of the Political Discourse – Respect & Austerity:
• I pledge to conduct a campaign with positive content and respect. A campaign where
aggressions of all types will be condemned by all participants of the political process, both
candidates and public officials.
• The political campaign should be constructive; one where mutual respect is not the exception
but the rule. Where the political discourse on the issues of Puerto Rico is conducted with
civility, focused on proposals and solutions, and where personal attacks have no place in the
debates. Always respecting, with words and actions, the other candidates, their political parties
and their followers.
• The issues of the campaign will take into consideration the diversity and the minorities, which
are integral to our democratic system of government and tradition.
• Never use, for the political campaign, money from institutions or individuals whose resources
are not transparent and whose objectives are not aligned with ethical principles and values.
• Total transparency of the contributions and expenses of the campaign are paramount.
Mechanisms shall be in place at all times to allow for public scrutiny of records.
• Regard for the environment should be a priority. Visual as well as auditory pollution should be
avoided by not plastering with posters, and not producing unnecessary loud noises at activities.
• Limit, in a severe way, the expenses of the political campaign, thus tempering it with the
economic reality of our island.
II. ETHICAL PACT FOR THE 2016 ELECTIONS

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II. As an Elected Official
A. True Democratization of Public Administration / Elimination of Privileges:
• Manage government with fidelity placed in Puerto Rico and not in political parties or particular
agendas.
• Human development and work against inequality and poverty as a priority on the agenda.
• Change the social model from one of welfare to one of development and independence.
• Promote a culture of work and increase the participation in the workforce.
• Total transparency of income, goods and patrimony of public servants, as essential data to
detect conflicts of interest.
• Make public all criteria for the selection of political appointees, with the objective of eliminating
appointment practices which in the past have disrupted the operation of agencies by politicizing
them.
• All political appointees will sign, the day they are hired, a pact of loyalty to the people. This pact
will include a letter of resignation, with no set date, to be executed if the appointee violates the
pact.
• Employment security will not be conditioned to political party affiliation. Instead, capacity,
efficiency, productivity and professionalism will be the common goal.
• There will be zero tolerance for the sidelining of public servants who do not align themselves
with a particular party or ideology.
• Make public, prior to the election, the members of the cabinet who will execute the
government’s platform. This will allow for the presentation of their capabilities and experience
to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of their assigned posts.
• Reduce to an absolute minimum the expenses incurred in security details of the governor and
cabinet members.
B. Transparency in Financing and Expenses:
• Zero tolerance to unnecessary expenses and corruption of any kind.
• All government contracts will need to be associated with a natural person. No contract will be
granted where people can hide behind corporations. Contractors will have to show their face
and be subject to the scrutiny of the Puerto Rico Controller and Ethics Office.
• The Civil Service in Puerto Rico will emulate the Federal Government model.

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• All public affairs will be conducted with transparency and due process for accountability.
• Eliminate duplicated positions in public agencies, making an exhaustive evaluation of the post’s
functions and responsibilities, with the objective of making the best use of public funds.
• Develop a map of public projects with a set time for completion and meticulous accounting for
the use of all public funds.
• Defeated candidates in general elections will not be contracted as government advisors as is
now a common practice.
• Eliminate all contracts for legal services in those agencies that have their own legal divisions.
• Activate the functions and resources of the State Elections Commission only on election years.
Reassign all career employees to other government agencies that give essential services, once
the election cycle is over.
C. Economic and Human Development – Develop our economy in harmony with the
environment:
• Foster economic development by empowering our citizens within the framework of a
government that serves and tends to the needs of our Puerto Rican society.
• Make sure that our projects and public policies do not affect in a negative way our patrimony
and our natural resources.
• Create the environment to incentivize our emerging entrepreneurs, ensuring the appropriate
and effective utilization of such incentives.
• Establish a uniform statistical analysis system to be applied and utilized at all levels of our
government operations.
• Incorporate new goals for sustainable development as the ones adopted by the United Nations
for 2016-2030, as per the commitment we have with our people and humanity as a whole.
This historical moment requires of the political will to take action. It also requires of much common
sense to execute the best plans which will bring about the rebirth of Puerto Rico.
By signing this document, I commit myself to follow and obey completely everything written herein,
without reservations of any kind. I invite all candidates to elective political positions to endorse this
pledge by signing this pact, so that together we can build, with our effort and responsibility, the new
Puerto Rico that we all want and deserve.

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Manuel Cidre
Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto Rico
WORK PLAN FOR THE REAL TRANSFORMATION OF PUERTO RICO
III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT
What How
“To put back our country
on the road to recovery
and sustainable growth.”
Restructure the
debt within the
framework of a
Fiscal Control
Board (FCB) under
the "PROMESA"
Act.
– Debt restructuring should be conducted
transparently with all groups of holders
of debt, recognizing the economic
limitations of each issuer and
respecting the constitutional and
contractual rights of each issue. In this
context:
o Recognize that in court,
bondholders have the
advantage of making their rights
prevail.
o Restore credibility with good
faith and transparency and with
a plan of restructuring of
government that show the
intention of complying with our
obligations.
o Benefit from the debt
moratorium ("stay") to
accommodate the needs of
liquidity of each agency to
ensure essential services.
o Cuts of principal at agencies
and issuers that are insolvent,
according to the requirements of
each issuer.
o Respect the debts guaranteed
by the Constitution (GO’s) and
those that have adequate
safeguards. This will allow for a
faster return to the market.
o Negotiate advantageous terms
as circumstances allow,
including repurchase of
obligations at discount from
bondholders who do not want to
participate in restructured
bonds.
o Change the message to
investors and tourists and
change the discourse of
"humanitarian crisis", which
discourages investors and

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depresses the economy even
more.
III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT (CONT.)
What How

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Restructuring of the
central and
municipal
governments.
Establish a strict
control of expenses
and increase
efficiency.
Within the context of the Fiscal Control
Board (FCB):
– Restructure the government based on
a model of regionalization of
administrative services with the aim of
significantly reducing its size, within
the existing constitutional context.
(See "Regionalization".)
– Redirecting budget allocations to
support those areas which need to be
reinforced in the framework of the
work plan (economic development,
education, health, and safety).
– Realigning the municipal
governments in 8 functional regions
that will absorb the majority of the
administrative functions that now are
replicated in 78 municipalities.
– At the same time, align the services of
the central government, as much as
possible, in these 8 regions, so there
is a greater and more effective
congruence of services.
– Significantly reducing the budget of
La Fortaleza, including:
o The elimination of La Fortaleza
as the residence of the
Governor and his family.
o Elimination of the Office of the
First Lady.
o Reduce the budget for
consultants.
o Reduce to a minimum
necessary the escort of the
Governor, his family and all
those members of the
constitutional cabinet and
agencies.
o Reduce or eliminate expenses
of the former Governors and
their escorts.
What How

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“To put back our
country on the road
to recovery and
sustainable growth.”
Implement a plan of
economic
development in the
short, medium and
long term, which
puts the country
back on the road to
recovery and
sustainable growth.
Address the deficit
of the government
retirement systems.
Legislative
Efficiency.
Within the context of the Fiscal Control
Board (FCB):
– Using successful examples of other
U.S. jurisdictions and other countries.
– Supporting the Coalition Pact of the
Private Sector.
– Emphasizing the measurement of the
success of any initiative in a uniform
and scientific fashion:
o Strengthening the resources of
the Institute of Statistics for
those purposes.
– Modifying, prospectively, all
retirement plans into defined-
contribution retirement plans.
– Re-capitalizing the retirement plans of
the central government and teachers.
– Disposing adequately of agencies and
properties, earmarking funds
exclusively to pension funds.
– With the product of the economies
generated by the governmental
reorganization, make contributions to
retirement, so that present and future
retirees can receive their pensions.
– Investigating the abuses that have
affected the Retirement Systems and
take corrective or legal action.
– Implementing a single chamber
legislature, validated democratically
by the people.
– Proposing a budget reduction of the
legislature.
– Completing the restructuring of the
legislature under the concept of
citizen legislator.
– Reducing the time and costs of
legislative sessions.
What How

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Legislative
Efficiency.
– Reducing the budget allocated to
legislators to hire advisers and
strengthen a group of legislative
advisors (preferably career
employees) which serve all legislators
in the Office of Legislative Services.
– Eliminating once and for all of the
legislative budget entries for diets that
are not necessary.
– Assessing the level of compensation
of legislators. Their current pay is
totally disproportionate compared with
other jurisdictions with an income per
capita much greater than Puerto Rico.
– Eliminating legislative assignments
("Pork Barrel Funds"): those that are
worthwhile must be part of the budget
from the General Fund and be subject
to the rigor of an evaluation.
IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET
What How

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“No matter the size
and origin of
expenditure, if it does
not bring value to the
citizen and to the
country, it will be
eliminated."
Effective
management of the
budget.
Simplify the
structure of
agencies and
corporations.
– A government plan based on
transparency and prudent
administration of the taxpayer’s
money, where the emphasis of
Government management will be to
establish public policy and overseeing
with absolute transparency and
accountability.
– Establishing consistent
methodologies of performance and
metrics, where the data provided by
the Institute of Statistics are a
fundamental part of this process.
– Implementing innovative ways to do
more with less, questioning structures
and existing processes.
– By promoting a more efficient and
effective government that allows
redirection of resources in the service
of citizens, eliminating bureaucratic
processes and structures. This
includes the elimination of
administrative political appointees;
resources that should be redirected to
direct service to the citizen and to
revenues control.
– Professionalizing human capital,
integrating the use of technology to
the maximum.
– Selling unused Government
properties.
– Reducing by 70% of private
properties leased by the government.
– Eliminating the practice of hiring
external services in agencies that
have internal departments.
– In conjunction with Municipal
Councils, encourage the rehabilitation
of abandoned properties making them
available to new and emerging
companies.
– Consolidating and eliminating
agencies to minimize the duplication
of administrative processes.
IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET (CONT.)
What How

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Streamline,
restructure and
strengthen the
structures of
agencies and
corporations.
– Setting as a goal, the design of a
small and efficient government in
accordance with the decline in
population and economic contraction:
o Economies via technological
advances.
o Limit the operational
expenditure of the government
to no more than 20% of the
gross domestic product (GDP)
or 10% of the total population.
o A cap of 50 to 60 agencies,
everything else is consolidated
in others.
– Evaluating public corporations that
provide commercial services to
citizens and to consider the complete
or partial transfer to employee,
cooperatives or private companies.
– For Example:
o Power generation - AEE
(PREPA)
o Integrate customer Service
AEE (PREPA) and AAA
(PRASA)
o Public Buildings Authority.
o Operation and Maintenance of
ports.
o Maritime Transport Authority.
o Metropolitan bus authority.
– Transferring to the corresponding
region/municipality all those agencies
or corporations with particular
missions (Cantera, Enlace, etc.).
– Encouraging the creation of
companies, under the cooperative
model, where their employee-owners
provide the services now provided by
the government. Ex.: school canteens
and mass transit.
What How

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Streamline,
restructure and
strengthen the
structures of
agencies and
corporations.
– Accelerating the use of public/private
partnerships (PPP) for the
construction and operation of
infrastructure improvements needed
for economic and social development
of PR.
– Regionalizing public services to
achieve economies of scale and
make these 8 self-sufficient regions
composed of existing municipalities,
thus eliminating the need for
subsidies from the central
government and preserving its
municipal identity. (See
"Regionalization")
– Similarly, align as much as possible
the government agencies to these
municipal regions:
o Education, Police and Health.
– By centralizing certain processes
(e.g., planning of infrastructure
projects) and delegating execution to
regions (for example, maintenance of
roads and schools).
– Simplifying administrative processes
and services to the citizen with the
integration of technology. Increasing
the online services and integrating
citizen service offices. (services of
several agencies in a single unit).
– Consolidating into a single unit the
offices of Ombudsman for women,
people of advanced age, veterans,
patients, citizen with disabilities, etc.
– Consolidating agencies that provide
the same type of services or whose
nature is similar.
– Examples:
o CFSE, ACCA, SINOT, y ASES
under an insurance model of
health services.
o Education, Recreation and
Sports and Culture.
What How

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Foster a culture of
philanthropy to
reduce the role of
the government in
subsidizing non-
governmental
organizations.
– Evaluating and proceeding based on
merits with subsidies to organizations
that are more effective that the
government in giving services direct
to the needier.
– Given the economic situation,
subsidies to entities that do not give
direct services and/or have the ability
to generate their own resources, will
have to be eliminated.
– Through entities such as Community
Financial Consultants, help charities:
o Improve their administrative
processes.
o Develop their ability to attract
funds with proposals to the
Federal Government,
foundations, and entities such
as United Funds (United Way).
o Improve their capacities for
collection of donations from the
public.
V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
What How

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Reorganize the
system of
employees of the
government to
create a Civil
Service for career
employees,
following the
models of the
Federal Government
of the US, France,
and Great Britain.
Establish structures
and processes to
improve control and
increase
transparency.
– Investing in the training of civil
servants.
– Increases and advancements for
public employees will be based on the
results of evaluations and by merit;
promoting a culture of excellence in
the service public.
– Associate bonuses with the increase
of GDP.
– Creating a single system of
classification, evaluation,
remuneration and removal of all
public employees (Executive Branch,
Legislative and Judicial).
– Improving the compensation of public
employees and rationalizing the
benefits (vacation, illness, retirement,
health plans) consistent with those
offered by the private sector.
– Reducing the number of political
appointees by 85%, assigning their
responsibilities to career employees:
o It should be noted that in the
Government of PR there are
more than 4,000 positions of
trust. That exceed even those
of the Federal Government.
o The positions of trust are
reduced for the purpose of
depoliticizing the civil service.
o Reduce the contracted
services engaged in tasks that
can be assigned to career
employees.
V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (CONT.)
What How

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Establish structures
and processes to
improve control and
increase
transparency.
– Re-establishing the Office of the
Inspector General, modeled on the
federal OIG, as a supervisory entity
that evaluates compliance with
effective and efficient processes and
the appropriate use of public funds.
– Creating the Puerto Rico Treasury
Department, integrating the functions
of the Government Development
Bank, Department of the Treasury,
Cooperative Commissions and other
similar functions.
– Redefining the functions of the
Government Development Bank
(GDB), eliminating its bank functions
and focusing it as fiscal agent.
– Redefining the functions of the
Economic Development Bank (EDB),
under the Department of Economic
Development, focusing on strategic
areas of economic development as a
local SBA.
– Splitting from the Department of the
Treasury (Hacienda) the revenue
collection functions, thus creating a
local IRS. Both entities would report
separately to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
VI. REGIONALIZATION
What How

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Government Restructuring Plan (8 Regions)
“Puerto Rico faces its
worst administrative,
fiscal and economic
crisis since the Great
Depression of the
30’s.”
Organize the
municipal
government in eight
(8) administrative
regions, optimizing
the administrative
powers and
reducing
redundancies of
processes.
– Maintaining and protecting the
geographical and cultural existence of
the seventy-eight (78) municipalities
of the country, with their respective
mayors as major political figures on
them.
– With an administrative structure that
will remove the redundancy in the
operating expenses of the regions.
– Establishing at the same time a
process of proximity to the citizenship
in the provision of services, and steps
that will result in efficacy and
efficiency, to the eliminate layers of
bureaucracy that are now part of the
centralist model.
– Restoring the principle of merit and
transparency in public service.
– Democratizing governance resulting
in a transfer of the current "governing"
model to a model of "governance".
VI. REGIONALIZATION (CONT.)
What How

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Government Restructuring Plan (8 Regions)

“Regionalization puts
on equal footing all
municipalities,
including those most
isolated, including
Vieques and
Culebra.”
Organize the
municipal
government in eight
(8) administrative
regions, optimizing
the administrative
powers and
reducing
redundancies of
processes.
– Governance that will allow
empowerment by and for our citizens
in a way that takes into account the
needs and prerogatives of social
sectors that are usually ignored,
highlighting in this way democracy as
a central instrument for the quest for
equality and against poverty.
– At the same time, this new model of
public administration will result in
hundreds of millions of dollars in
savings that will serve to address the
restructuring of debt and relieve the
tax burden, reinserting these savings
to stimulate the growth of the
economy.
VII. TAXES
What How

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Establish a taxation
system, equitable
and fair to all
sectors of the
country. That
encourages work,
savings, investment
and production. A
system focused on
the stability and
growth of the
economy. A system
in which the cost of
compliance is
reduced and
controls are agile.
– Lowering rates or adjusting individual
and corporate tax brackets, being
more efficient in the collection of the
consumption tax.
– Reestablish an Earned Income Credit
for low income workers.
– Eliminate inefficient incentives, credits
exclusions, exemptions, and
deductions.
– Eliminate / reduce taxes that
inadequately increase costs to the
productive sector (B2B to the extent
that it cannot be passed-through;
personal property; municipal volume
of business tax).
– Improve the use of technology to
reduce compliance costs and improve
control to increase efficiency, ensure
compliance, improve control and
acquirement.
– Review all incentives laws so that
they support the establishment of
direct and indirect jobs.
– Assess the effectiveness of the
multiple incentive laws from the point
of view of job creation and long-term
capital investment.
– Standardize the of incentive laws and
expand the scope of those that not
only encourage foreign investment
but will also stimulate the
development of a local business
ecosystem that supplement and serve
these companies.
– Set reasonable job creation
requirements, creating adjustment
mechanisms to benefits in case of
non-compliance.
VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
What How

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“Position Puerto Rico
as a center of
excellence,
productivity and
efficiency, optimizing
and maximizing the
traditional and
emerging sectors
with special focus on
human development
to reduce poverty
increasing and
strengthening the
middle class and
improving the quality
of life."
Develop, optimize
and maximize the
Puerto Rican
industry, with focus
on import
substitution, export
within a global
culture, and with
emphasis on the
community based
economy as one of
the pillars of the
sustainable
development of the
island.
– Create a revitalization fund for the
local industry.
– Promote investment through
traditional pharmaceutical companies.
– Enforce Act 153, a law to adopt
uniform standards of assessment,
adjudication and review of
acquisitions of products and services.
– Develop the plan of economic
development of Puerto Rican capital,
considering: the pillars of economic
development of the Puerto Rico
Manufacturer’s Association, the
Council of Puerto Rican Industry
Revitalization and the initiatives of the
Alliance for Incubation of Community
Micro-enterprises.
– Promote research, development and
commercialization through public and
private universities.
– Integrate and develop a research
ecosystem and development between
molecular sciences, comprehensive
Cancer Center, the Science and
Technology Trust, with a focus on the
development of local manufacturing.
– Promote traditional and generic
products pharmaceutical industries
under threat of closure through
private investment.
– Align Acts 20 and 22, as well as Act
185 (Law of Private Capital Funds) in
the development of local industries of
the 25 products of greater importation
in PR.
– Local companies with global focus
and the competitiveness required by
the aerospace industry.
– Bring the local labor laws into the 21st
.
century, including, among others,
changes to flexible hours of work
("Flexi-Time").
– Evaluate the effectiveness of Act 52
(law of incentives for the wage
subsidies) and propose amendments
as applicable.
VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CONT.)
What How

24
Expedite permits for
the development
and operation of
business, by
centralizing
processing at single
management
centers, which
provide an answer
in a minimum time
and at a reasonable
cost. Develop a
program for the
facilitation of
acquisition of
properties for new
buyers and Puerto
Ricans living
stateside, this last is
intended to reduce
the inventory of
properties for sale
and increase the
state income tax on
real property.
– Uniform and simplify the multiple
incentives laws to provide these
benefits to small and medium-sized
companies that do not have access to
large law firms and expensive
consultants.
– Promoting Puerto Rico as a strategic
player of bridge and facilitator for
cultural and economic development
with Cuba. Supporting viable
initiatives from the Private Sector
Coalition.
– Issuance of instant permits for
businesses that do not require studies
of environmental impact or health to
the population, with a duration of six
(6) months and whose permanence is
subject to compliance with the
requirements established by the office
of permits corresponding to that
particular business. If at the end of
that term the business is not in
compliance with the permit
procedures, it would be cancelled and
the business could not continue
operating. Providing false information
false or attempting to defraud the
system would lead to severe fines
and/or sanctions to the petitioner
and/or professional involved.
– Coordinate with banks and other
holders of mortgages:
o Negotiate discounts on sales
prices.
o Availability of inventory.
o Promotion in markets of
emigration.
o Mortgage guarantees.
o Promotion of a local secondary
market for mortgages.
– Provide tax incentives for purchases:
o Discount on property taxes
with time limits and other
requirements on the purchase.
o Eliminate the purchase tax
payable to the broker.
What How

25
Take advantage as
island strategically
located in the
Caribbean, to
become a base for
maintenance of
fleets of aircraft,
ships and as a
center of operation
of fleets and
operations of
scientific
exploration.
Convert the island in
a Center of
intermodal goods
movement (air and
sea) for the
Caribbean, Central,
and South America.
Support the
development of "call
centers" and other
high sensitivity
operations for the
Federal
Government, which
require to be
operated by U.S.
citizens. Such as:
cyber security,
homeland security
and others.
- Evaluating, improving and replicating
the aerospace model of Aguadilla.
- Returning to the model of
development in Ceiba.
- Emphasizing the knowledge of
English as an advantage in the
maintenance of ships of American
manufacturing and as a language of
the aviation industry.
- Revitalizing the Ceiba aviation
mechanics school.
- Integrating the operation of the ports
and airports of San Juan, Ceiba,
Ponce, Mayagüez, Arecibo, and
Aguadilla in a single port system to be
called the "Port of Puerto Rico".
- Working with the Federal Government
to identify and negotiate, together with
local companies, the establishment of
operations where the advantages of
English and citizenship are key.
- Identify specialized industries as
those of health, aviation, banking and
others, where the existing regulations
require employees with American
citizenship.
- Locate facilities in areas that are
economically depressed, particularly
in the center of the island.
What How

26
Support the
development of "call
centers" and other
high sensitivity
operations for the
Federal
Government, which
require to be
operated by U.S.
citizens. Such as:
cyber security,
homeland security
and others.
Support and
promote the film
industry.
Promote the
development of
research and
development of
patents for products
to be industrialized
in Puerto Rico.
- Provide groups of consultants and
technical support to operate from
Puerto Rico to the Caribbean and
Latin America for the purpose of
converting the island in the Center of
technical assistance for Latin
America.
– Support and encourage filmmakers of
the local film industry. In addition,
promote filmmakers to come to
Puerto Rico from the US and other
countries to shoot on our island.
Thus, contracting companies and
purchasing from the local commerce
will be encouraged. All this will
generate jobs, capital, and promotion
of Puerto Rico as a favorable and
varied destination for movie-making
throughout the year.
− Establish a real link between the local
universities, notably the University of
PR, the Science and Technology
Trust and local industries for the joint
development of this intellectual
property.
− Work hand in hand with the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
medical devices industries to identify
these opportunities and make them
available to both local and US
investors interested on investing in
PR.
What How

27
Promote the
manufacture,
installation,
maintenance and
administration of
alternative sources
of energy to
institutional,
commercial, and
domestic markets.
Convert Fomento
into a public-private
enterprise.
− Work hand in hand with local
investors and those who already are
benefiting from the tax incentives (Act
20 and 22) to promote the
development of this type of industry.
− Promoting the establishment of
operations in industrial facilities that
are currently underutilized or vacant.
− By inserting the universities and
technical colleges in the development
of curricula for these industries:
o Help these institutions in the
promotion of these courses
and careers.
o Eliminate those artificial
impediments that now exist for
the interconnection of
residential generation (solar,
etc.). This adds generating
capacity at low cost and with
private investment.
− Using as a model the "Beacon
Council-Florida/Foundation" of
Florida:
o Review the positive attributes
that is has and adapt them for
local use.
− Helping to focus on organizations
such as the PR Manufacturers’
Association in the attraction and
promotion; the Chamber of
Commerce as a promoter of the retail
and services sector; and Fomento as
the custodian of public policy,
administration and development of
industrial facilities.
− By multiplying the capacity of
promotion by empowering
professionals (lawyers, architects,
engineers, CPA’s, etc.) to seek
opportunities for economic
development.
What How

28
Use the former base
in Ceiba as the axis
of the tourism and
industrial
development of the
region, including the
island municipalities
of Vieques and
Culebra.
Accelerate the
immigrant/investor
visa program in
conjunction with the
Department of
Homeland Security.
Position to Puerto
Rico as Center of
excellence,
productivity and
efficiency optimizing
and maximizing
traditional and
emerging sectors
with special focus in
human
development,
reducing poverty
while increasing and
strengthening the
middle class and
improving the
quality of life.
− Finally implementing the Master Plan
of Roosevelt Roads in full, according
to the Department of Defense
guidelines and encourage cruise
ships in this area.
− Establishing areas of free trade in the
inner cities of the municipality of
Vieques and Culebra Islands to
compete with the US Virgin Islands to
help economic development and
employment.
− Promoting among them, as among
local investors and the "20 / 22"
investors a climate of opportunities for
investment.
− Aligning those efforts and the
economic metrics with academic
efforts both public and private,
through the continuous provision of
information and analysis to the
universities.
− Provision of data in real time using
cyber portals.
− Through annual summits where
academia, private industry and the
government congregate to exchange
information that will help to align both
academia and government to areas of
importance for the country's economic
and social growth.
− Promote different forms of
collaborative economies ("sharing
economy") that promote economic
development through the direct
exchange of goods and services.
IX. TOURISM
What How

29
Recognize the economy
of the visitor as a factor
of utmost importance
for the economic
development of Puerto
Rico and promote those
elements that
strengthen it.
Tourism promotion
efforts should be
viewed as an integral
part of the economic
Rico.
– Leveraging the input of entities
like the Puerto Rico Hotel &
Tourism Association and
Foundation for Puerto Rico to
establish appropriate and
measurable strategies for the
development of the visitor
economy.
– Promoting to PR locally through
the awareness of the population
of the importance of the economy
of the visitor.
– Establishing and maintaining a
uniform system of tourism
statistics, allocating resources
from the Institute of statistics.
– Developing the research and
evaluation processes necessary
to identify the most appropriate
strategies for the development of
tourism.
– Promoting PR throughout the
world, not only in the US,
leveraging technology, mostly
through the use of social
networks.
– Increasing the presence of PR in
conventional media in the US
markets, in a strictly measurable
way.
– It should be addressed as a
Public-Private Commission.
Restore the phrase "La Isla el
Encanto" or “Island of
Enchantment” as the basis for a
lasting brand that is endorsed by
all sectors of the country so it
doesn't fall victim to the partisan
political ups and downs.
– Calling on the collaboration of all
sectors of society in promoting
this initiative.
– Managing the initiatives through
re-education of employees on the
brand.
IX. TOURISM (CONT.)
What How

30
Tourism promotion
efforts should be
viewed as an integral
part of the economic
Rico.
Promote the industry of
culture to present
Puerto Rico as a
cultural, gastronomic,
and eco-friendly
destination.
Promote the
development of the
former naval base in
Ceiba as a top tier
tourist destination.
– Encouraging the
development/growth of
enterprises of tourist services and
integrating their promotion around
the tourist routes.
– Leveraging educational centers
throughout the island in this effort
both al elementary, higher and
university levels:
o Promoting the island
worldwide.
o Used as a common focal
point to give back to the
people their pride in Puerto
Rico.
– Developing gastronomic routes,
ecotourism and rural tourism on
multiple areas of the island.
– Integrating educational programs
to prepare the human capital in
areas of hospitality, tourist guides,
gastronomy, security,
management and other services
to support the tourism
destinations.
– Bringing the development of
popular artistic curriculums in its
execution.
– Developing cruise ship ports and
regular and charter air routes.
– Integrating hotels and other
accommodations.
– Providing access to the islands of
Vieques and Culebra as tourist
destinations with intermodal
access (air-sea).
– By combining facilities with
tourism, research, and agro-
industry among others.
IX. TOURISM (CONT.)
What How

31
Position Vieques and
Culebra as a regional
competitor and
relevant option in the
Caribbean.
Establish and
redouble existing
efforts focused in
increasing the use of
the inventory of hotel
rooms and its
eventual increase.
– Using a model similar to the British
and US Virgin Islands.
– Integrating to the Island
municipalities in the programs of
tourism promotional.
– Working with the US Navy to
achieve decontamination and
cleaning of Vieques as soon as
possible.
– Promoting among communities of
Puerto Ricans in the US Inns,
festivals, parties and other local
events in Puerto Rico with the
purpose of promoting visits to the
island.
– Promoting medical tourism in the
Caribbean and other international
markets.
– Promoting Puerto Rico as an
educational destination with high
quality and low cost at the
hemispheric level.
– Promoting activities throughout the
year such as festivals of music and
others in Puerto Rico.
– Coordinating with the Department
of Transportation and Public
Works, and the related
municipalities, the proper
identification and maintenance of
routes of greater tourist use.
– Promoting cruises on other "Ports
of Puerto Rico", such as Ponce,
Mayaguez and Ceiba.
– Focusing on attracting the Puerto
Rican diaspora to their island.
Establishing clubs of former
residents. Copying the model of
Commerce and its seven wonders
to bring the diaspora learn more
about their roots.
IX. TOURISM (CONT.)
What How

32
Establish and
redouble existing
efforts focused in
increasing the use of
the inventory of hotel
rooms and its
eventual increase.
Promote local studies
for Hispanic students
who come from
outside of Puerto
Rico.
– Promoting the diversity of
attractions on the island such as:
beaches, the history of the old
areas, gastronomy, and
metropolises.
– Endorsing and implementing the
program of Campus Puerto Rico.
– Using funds from HD, among
others, to develop student housing
"Campus Villages" or "Clusters" of
education on the vacant urban
areas and deteriorated areas such
as Sacred Heart in Santurce, Río
Piedras, etc., aligned with the
Urban Train stations.
X. INFRASTRUCTURE
What How

33
Consolidate the
functions of planning,
development and
management of
infrastructure
projects under the
Authority for the
Financing of
Infrastructure (AFI).
The purpose is to
improve the quality,
efficiency, and
transparency of
public investments.
Consolidate and
optimize the services
of public
corporations.
Concentration of
investment in
operation and
maintenance of
existing public works.
– Through a multidisciplinary team
(architects, engineers, economists,
planners, financial, administrators,
environmentalists, etc.).
– Via a plan, design, finance, and
development, through the private
sector, its public corporations and
all the works of the central
Government.
– In coordination with the 8
administrative regions (see
“Regionalization”).
– Integrating services of collection
and maintenance of water, energy,
solid waste within the Center of
Utilities of Puerto Rico, promoting,
among others, the cross training of
employees of those agencies.
– Improving the condition of the
roads through the use of recycled
materials, such as used rubber
from tires.
– Fixing and improving the lighting of
public roads through the use of
renewable energy technologies,
such as: "Posterriqueño".
– implementing an intensive long-
term (25-year) program to repair
and replace all the water supply
and sewage distribution network of
the PR Aqueduct & Sewage
Authority – PRASA (A.A.A.), and
the transmission and distribution
lines of PREPA (A.E.E.).
X. INFRASTRUCTURE (CONT.)
What How

34
Concentration of
investment in
operation and
maintenance of
existing public works.
Establish an energy
public policy that is
aligned with short,
medium and long
term socio-economic
goals.
– With the development of new legal
entities arising from the process of
regionalization, ensure the
conditions for responsible and
sustainable funding for the creation
and development of infrastructure
in accordance with the needs of
each one of them.
– Giving priority to the re-
development and demolition of
public eyesores, following the due
processes of law.
– Old and outdated electricity
generation plants will be removed:
o Allowing private investment
and facilitate generation and
sale to consumers at lower
cost.
o This also would lower the
bills of the AAA (PRASA). A
positive effect of substantial
savings in electricity and
water.
– Opening to public discussion all the
alternatives of generation,
transmission and distribution of
energy and analyzing them from a
scientific point of view, with real
transparency and according to the
goals of the country.
– Including in the discussions the
academic, environmental,
economic, industrial, commercial,
and community groups.
– Ensuring that the resulting plan
includes a generation of energy
that is increasingly cleaner and
sustainable in the long term.
X. INFRASTRUCTURE (CONT.)
What How

35
Promote and
implement, as public
policy, a modern
public transportation
system, in optimal
conditions, efficient,
reliable, and
environmentally
clean, with various
mode of transport
such as ground and
water-based,
throughout the island,
to facilitate the
mobility and
economic
development.
– Creating cooperatives of
employees of the Metropolitan Bus
Authority (AMA) and sell the real
estate to capitalize it and
transferring it to these cooperative
of employees.
– Supporting transportation
alternatives in the island to
compete in equal conditions and
lower the number of requirements
that the government requires from
taxi drivers.
– Extending the Urban Train through
private investment to extend
service to Plaza Las Americas, to
the Luis Muñoz Marín International
Airport, and Caguas.
– Promoting the extension of the
Urban Train by light train to Old
San Juan.
– Establishing new routes and
services in conjunction with the
community, private enterprise, and
cooperatives to establish a network
of public transport in optimal
conditions with just and reasonable
rates, modern, efficient, and
reliable. Not only for Puerto
Ricans, but also for tourists,
enabling access to all towns on the
island.
XI. EDUCATION
What How
“Align the public The goal of the – Establishing an educational

36
education system to
the needs of younger
generations.”
educational system in
Puerto Rico should
be the development
of the human capital
in support of the
long-term country
plan (development
economic, social and
cultural), designed
and executed as per
the ten-year plan
mandated by law.
philosophy that serves as the basis
for the development of a new
administrative model of public
education in the country, promoting
the humanistic and holistic
development of the individual.
– Based on decisions making based
on data on each participant in the
process of teaching and learning.
– Which possesses clear metrics
following models tested with
evidence based on research.
– The structure of the educational
system must be tempered to the
educational mission:
o Flexible
o Effective
– Reviewing the curriculum of K-12
with the purpose of developing
skills in science, mathematics,
computer, and technology.
– Parents will be active partners in
the education of their children
establishing development
programs for them.
– Integrating them in school boards.
– Connect broad-band Internet into
the educational centers, research
facilities, museums, and other
educational facilities providing
access to the available
infrastructure.
– Integrating the technologies of
information and communications in
all the process of teaching and
learning.
– Emphasizing the teaching of
science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, as well as
bilingualism from preschool
grades.
XI. EDUCATION (CONT.)
What How

37
The goal of the
educational system in
Puerto Rico should be
the development of the
human capital in
support of the long-
term country plan
(development
economic, social and
cultural), designed and
executed as per the
ten-year plan
mandated by law.
Align the public
education system to
the needs of the new
generations.
– The special education for children
diagnosed with disabilities will
follow a comprehensive model, in
strict compliance with the federal
standards, which include therapies,
academic services, parent training,
and family support.
– Promoting the increase in the
development of the Montessori
system within the public teaching
system.
– Provide in our schools, adult
education, literacy, education in
health, finance, technology and
other areas during periods in which
schools are idle.
– Emphasizing pre-school education
(from Pre-Kinder) with the aim of
increasing the academic and social
success of our youth.
– Within the framework of the
consolidation of agencies, the
Departments of Sports and
Recreation, and cultural
development-related agencies will
be consolidated within the
Department of Education. In such
a way, that the implementation of
the educational philosophy is
focused on the integral and
humanistic development of the
individual. Use sport and culture as
elements fundamental to this
development.
– Promote the implementation of
multiple technical-vocational
programs leading to certifications
aligned to the development plan of
the country with the Department of
What How

38
Align the public
education system to
the needs of the new
generations.
Strengthen and
expand the science,
technology,
engineering, and
mathematics (STEM)
courses at primary and
secondary levels to
include computer
sciences as a basic
skill. 51% of all jobs
related to STEM for
2018 will be related to
computer science.
Create an educational
program where
students can graduate
with an associate
degree in a career
related to STEM at
graduating from high
school.
Education. In such a way, that the
implementation of the educational
philosophy focused in the integral
and humanistic development of the
individual uses sports, physical
education and culture as its
fundamental elements.
– A five-year program to be built with
a defined strategy to implement on
primary and secondary levels in a
stepped fashion. This will allow
access to more than $4 billion
dollars earmarked by the Federal
Government for this purpose.
– Teachers will be trained and
strategic alliances developed with
the private sector and third sector
organizations involve our students.
– The creation of a curriculum of
excellence in this area is essential
to support our vision of economic
development. Curriculum will be
modified to ensure the courses of
computer science for the
graduation of students.
– Based in the P-TECH school of
New York, where students will
graduate with an associate degree
in applied science, computer
science or engineering.
– The integration of universities and
the commitment from private
companies will help in the form of
established curriculum and the real
opportunities of employment.
– This will allow a focus on
graduating students with
immediate, well paid employment
opportunities, thus breaking the
cycle of unemployment and
underemployment due to lack of
technical skills.
What How

39
Create an educational
program where
students can graduate
with an associate
degree in a career
related to STEM at
graduating from high
school.
The University of
Puerto Rico should be
the main source for the
formation of human
capital that we need
for the economic and
social development of
our country. It must
reorganize itself as a
truly autonomous
institution, which, by
adopting economic,
social, political and
cultural development
of the island as a goal
of its curricular efforts
and research, will be
transformed to reduce
their dependence on
the government, have
more institutional
stability and regain its
position of excellence
in all areas of
knowledge.
– As part of the school curriculum,
this program will be offered free of
charge for students who are
committed to it.
– Adopting the model of the
autonomous universities
autonomous of first category from
the rest of the world, while
resorting to academic tools to
generate more income. This
means to achieve financial self-
sufficiency of 50% by:
o The adoption of a system of
trimesters and quarters.
o The aggressive development
of institutional proposals for
external funding and
institutionalization of research
partnerships with the
productive and business
sector, both local and as
investment in Puerto Rico.
o The real development of an
efficient system of scientific
patents linked to the
economic and environmental
development of the island.
o The implementation of an
administrative reorganization
which eliminates duplication
of programs and bureaucratic
obstacles and enhances the
services available for students
and access to facilities, both
for Latin American students
and our brothers in the
diaspora.
What How

40
The University of
Puerto Rico should
be the main source
for the formation of
human capital that
we need for the
economic and
social development
of our country. It
must reorganize
itself as a truly
autonomous
institution, which,
by adopting
economic, social,
political and cultural
development of the
island as a goal of
its curricular efforts
and research, will
be transformed to
reduce their
dependence on the
government, have
more institutional
stability and regain
its position of
excellence in all
areas of knowledge.
o Establishment of night courses
at the University supported by
new technologies to respond to
the demands of the
contemporary workplace, and
the intensive use of its
excellent physical facilities.
o The implantation of a variable
formula for the cost of tuition,
based on family income, which
makes it more just to those
who can pay more as well as
those talented students from
low-income that lack the
resources to finance a
university degree.
o Forbearance of student loans to
those professionals who pledge
themselves to serve Puerto Rico
for five (5) years after graduation
from the University.
– Establishing and maintaining a system
of constant evaluation that serves to
ensure that the University is socially
responsible with the needs of our
citizens in all sectors of society.
– Implement ways to strengthen the
finances of the University through the
capitalization of mechanisms such as
patents.
– Assessing the formula for funding of the
University system of the island.
– Redefining the role or the part that the
University will be playing in the
education system of the country.
– Aligning the secondary and post-
secondary education plan of Puerto
Rico so that it responds to the
development plan of the country.
What How

41
Educational
Philosophy.
− First, when we talk about educational
reform we have to start by
establishing "educational philosophy
in which that educational reform will
be framed":
o A comprehensive and coherent
educational philosophy that
contains specific goals to
answer questions such as:
What is the purpose of the
educational system? What are
our goals of the education
system? What is the profile or
what type of graduate we
want? What is the
development and profile of
citizen that we want for the
future?
o Without an educational
philosophy anchored in social
capital formation, citizenship
training, and personal and
community responsibility, our
education system will remain
vulnerable and prisoner of
political event swings, as has
been the case to this day.
o The first executive order of the
incoming Administration will be
convening the necessary
sectors so that in the first 100
days they will deliberate
horizontally and produce this
philosophy that will serve as
the basis of our educational
system development.
o Among those sectors which
should be represented are
teachers, universities,
business, professional guilds,
merchants, parent’s groups
and other professional groups.
What How

42
Educational
Philosophy.
Administrative
Reform.
o Professionals in education will
be responsible to review and
make recommendations
related to a curriculum
necessary to temper the
educational philosophy and
needs of the country.
o In addition, curriculum shall
contain, transversely from the
elementary school to the
University, topics in
introductory classes of
democratic theory, participation
and citizen coexistence,
economy and management,
environmental ethics,
sustainable development,
entrepreneurship and
educational technologies that
follow the trends of the new
“Knowledge Society”.
o The purpose of the Department
of Education will be aligned to
this educational philosophy
based on the development of
an individual, which,
considering demographic
changes, will pay equal
attention to the education of
the child, youth, adult and older
citizens.
− The proposal for regionalization of
services previously presented,
includes an element of
decentralization of certain services
that can be performed more
efficiently and more effectively in
those eight administrative regions.
− There are areas that do not require a
control at the central level as would
be the implementation of educational
public policy aspects, which may be
better served by regional teams that
these regions will have. These tasks
could be performed at less cost than
required at the central level,
therefore savings will be realized.
What How

43
Administrative
Reform.
− As a result of this decentralization,
the so long-awaited but often
frustrated goal of a school which
responds to the community and to
the school boards, will be a reality.
− By decentralizing the Department of
Education and passing along the
competencies to the administrative
regions, the following can be
achieved:
o Professional development.
o Maintenance of school
facilities.
o School supply of materials
and educational tools.
o Administration of school
cafeterias.
o School transportation
including students with
learning disabilities.
o Selection of learning
materials.
− The goal of an advanced
educational system must be the
integral development of the
individual.
− In that regard, the arts, sports and
culture are elements essential to that
integral development of our future
generations.
− Within the concept of regionalization,
decentralization and consolidation of
agencies with a view to produce
operational savings:
o Consolidate in the
Department of Education, the
Department of Recreation
and Sports and all those
instrumentalities for the
development and
preservation of the Puerto
Rican culture, as for example,
the Institute of Puerto Rican
Culture, as well as other
affiliated cultural entities.
What How

44
Administrative
Reform.
Invert The Budget
Formula
− The best means to make sports
and cultural activities massively
appealing is the school since
there is one in almost all
communities in the island.
− In this way, policies and
strategies in these three areas
must be intertwined to achieve
the goal of the comprehensive
development of the individual.
− Functions of recreation and
sports that can be transferred to
the regions shall be transferred.
− One of the main problems of the
Department of Education is its
politicization. The Department of
Education has been the spoils of
political parties, with a budget of
almost $3 billion. That is the
budget of some Latin American
countries.
− Contrary to the recommendations
of the UNESCO for the 21st
.
century project, 65% of that
budget goes to administrative
expenses, contracts for
professional services, contracts
to outside corporations that have
become a focus of corruption,
political investment and poor
services, especially for special
education students.
− Only 35% percent of that budget
goes to pay salaries of teachers,
which, together with the students,
are the two main components of
any system of education.
What How

45
Invert The Budget
Formula.
Depoliticizing the
System.
− The formula will be reversed so
that 65% of the budget is
earmarked for the payment of
salaries of teachers and the
educational teams for the
classroom and 35% to the
payment of operational and
administrative costs together with
professional services contracts.
− That along with the
aforementioned cuts, product of
the administrative restructuring,
we can raise the salaries of
teachers to 75% of the average
in the United States, representing
an average increase of 50%.
− In addition, as a result of the
process of evaluation of the
productivity of the teachers,
using an instrument developed
by the same teachers, establish
a system that will provide
productivity bonuses based on
the results of the teachers.
− Partisan politicization is one of the
main problems of the Department of
Education; it brings as
consequences:
o Shifting priorities because it is
more important for parties to
divide up the spoils of almost
$3 billion than to invest in the
real needs of the system.
o In the '80s eight education
regions allegedly to
decentralize the education
system and what ended was
an enclave of political party
cronies which perpetuated the
practice of hiring friends and
sympathizers of the party.
What How

46
Depoliticizing the
System.
o These administrative duties of
supervision of education
management can be done with
technological investment that
creates instant and interactive
databases on day to day
operations. And those eight
regions and superintendence’s
staff will be redeployed to
support teaching operations.
o Eliminate the regions of the
Department of Education and
the Superintendents. Saving
and cutting administrative fat
by transferring as much as
possible, the administrative
functions to the 8 municipal
administrative regions.
o Encourage the members of the
Cabinet, school boards and
University administration to
enroll their children in public
schools.
– After establishing the educational
philosophy and the redesign of
the curriculum, the ten-year
education plan, as required by
the organic law of the
Department of Education, should
be put in place.
– This plan may not be altered by
the electoral swings.
– The supervision and control of
the same will be to charge of
same sectors that designed the
educational philosophy.
− Establishment of metrics for
periods of time of at least 12
years and on an ongoing basis
for teachers, with a model
agreed with the magisterial class
and the faculties of education in
all universities in the country that
is interactive and formative and
that measures both processes
and results.
What How

47
Integration and
reform of
universities.
– All the universities, especially the
University of Puerto Rico, must be
integrated with the educational
system of the island and they should
have a high degree of social
responsibility on its efficacy.
– The universities, both public and
private, should make curricular
reforms to provide to teachers in the
education system the knowledge
and skills necessary to redirect the
education of the country.
– In addition, they should play a
leading role in the professional
development of teachers and, as
consultants, in their evaluation
processes.
– It is not possible to conceive the
economic development of any
country without the help of the
University which will be primarily
responsible for generating the
human capital required in economic
development:
o The University should have
Puerto Rico and its economic,
social and political needs as a
goal of their training
processes and research.
o The University has to be
accessible to all; to those who
can pay and who will pay
according to their income and
who cannot.
o The University has to be
autonomous in its decisions
and criteria of evaluation but,
at the same time, be
responsive to the processes
of educational reform,
depolitization of public
administration and the
economic development of the
country.
XII. HEALTH
What How

48
“A healthy and educated
country.”
Develop an
integrated
healthcare model
which includes
physical, oral and
mental health, and
which serves the
citizen from birth
until old age, with
education,
prevention,
metrics and
optimization as a
common goal.
− Developing a basic healthcare
cover for all Puerto Rico.
− Reorganizing the system to one of
a single payer.
− By adopting the federal standards
of quality of the 330 Centers.
− Promoting an integrated model of
health care, based on the needs of
the patient; directed to strengthen
the patient-doctor relationship,
replacing episodes of sporadic care
for coordinated care, with quality
and accessible, similar to PCMH
(Patient-Centered Medical Home)
certified centers.
− Setting the system’s administrative
expenses at a cap of 3%.
− Giving continuity and support to the
Universal Health Administrative
Board, as proposed by the
People’s Alliance of Health,
converted into law recently:
o Without prejudice to the
powers of the Secretary of
Health.
o The design and operation
will be standardized and
adequate.
o With representation from all
concerned parties.
− The basic healthcare cover can be
enhanced by buying additional
coverage from a private insurer:
o Similar to the system now
used in Massachusetts,
Canada, France, Germany,
Switzerland, Spain, and
Great Britain.
XII. HEALTH (CONT.)
What How

49
Develop an
integrated
healthcare model
which includes
physical, oral and
mental health, and
which serves the
citizen from birth
until old age, with
education,
prevention,
metrics and
optimization as a
common goal.
Restructure the
Department of
Health with the
goal of
consolidating
redundant
administrative
functions.
− Limiting the role of insurance
providers to cover addition
coverage.
− Payment according to the services
rendered and the complexity of the
service provided.
− Promoting an integrated network of
electronic medical records,
leveraging existing federal statutes:
o Avoiding duplication of
services and procedures.
o Unique medical record
"Puerto Rico Information
Exchange".
o Optimizing the use of
economic resources.
− In conjunction with public and
private educational systems at all
levels, by strengthening health
education:
o Physical, oral and mental.
o Good eating habits.
o Prevention.
o Exercise.
− Integrating medical services
provided by other agencies (CFSE,
ACAA, etc.).
− Incorporating into the health
program of the government, to the
extent that is viable, the principles
developed by the Multi-Sectorial
Council of Health for Puerto Rico.
− Aligning the regions of health to the
plan of municipal regionalization.
− Consolidating the functions of
finance, human resources, and
technology in a centralized
operation.
− Reinforcing the billing systems and
collection of services to the private
plans.
XII. HEALTH (CONT.)
What How

50
Restructure the
medical education
system in
coordination with
the University of
Puerto Rico and
other universities
that offer degrees
in the health
sciences.
Promote the
mechanisms and
measures
necessary to
prevent the
exodus of medical
and health
professionals.
− Developing a Plan of Service to
Puerto Rico, where all the health
professionals whose education is
provided in the public system or
public facilities, be bound to serve
for a period of time in Puerto Rico:
o With competitive salaries.
o Periods of service relative to
the time used and to the
specialty.
o Restore the residency
programs in teaching
hospitals for the various
medical specialties.
− Promote the establishment of a
"cap" or maximum for claims by
medical malpractice.
− Negotiating collectively the best
rates of medical malpractice
insurance, and if necessary,
subsidize part of the cost to create
a more attractive environment to
stay and work in Puerto Rico.
XIII. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
What How

51
Reorient the
approach of the
Puerto Rican
society towards a
better balance and
coexistence
between the
different socio-
economic groups
of the country.
Protect and assert
human rights.
Establish social
solidarity as a part
of the DNA of the
Puerto Rican
society.
Charting a new
path to improve our
quality of life.
− Encouraging education in tolerance
of diversity within the education
system.
− Promoting the values of tolerance
and acceptance within the spheres
of influence of the government.
Also within non-profit organizations
in the way of a covenant or social
pact.
− Promoting and respecting equality
and the human and constitutional
rights of all human beings.
− Avoiding any kind of discrimination
in areas such as housing,
development of enterprises,
community self-management,
health and education, among
others.
− Establishing public policy against
gender-based violence.
− Promoting values of solidarity
among all Puerto Ricans and
among communities of other
nationalities.
− Incorporating all sectors of society,
including the business sector, in
the promotion of human
development.
− Recognizing social and economic
inequality as one of the factors that
affects our development as a
country.
− Working with public and community
sectors to promote a true quality of
education that releases our people
from the shackles of discrimination
and marginalization.
XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY
What How

52
“Return the streets to
our law-abiding citizens.”
Transform Puerto
Rico into a country
of law and order.
Also, return the
streets to our law-
abiding citizens.
Transform the
Puerto Rico Police
Department in an
organization
directed to the
prevention of
crime and
compliance with
laws.
− Reduce conditions of risk in urban
environments, through the
incorporation of community
councils, where prevention is the
main focus of the efforts.
− Leveraging the regionalization
model (see “Regionalization”) in the
organization and operation of the
PR Police Department, to empower
communities in their initiatives of
prevention and safety.
− Expanding the implementation of an
effective system of cameras to
prevent criminal acts.
− Improving the maintenance and the
appearance of the equipment used
by police.
− Establishing, through the use of
social networks, public awareness
campaigns for:
o Compliance with laws and
regulations.
o Transit regulations.
o Ethics and coexistence.
o Citizenship.
− Continuing efforts to comply with
the conditions of the Federal
Monitor.
− Reorganizing the police regions in
alignment with the municipal
regions so that the coordination and
operation is more effective.
− Reinforcing the curriculum of the
Police Academy and continuing
education for active service police.
− Providing more training to police
officers on issues of:
o Risk management in violent
cases of abused children,
o Family,
o Gender,
o Mental health,
o and animals.
XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY (CONT.)
What How

53
Transform the
Puerto Rico Police
Department in an
organization
directed to the
prevention of crime
and compliance
with laws.
Address with
concrete actions
outlined in the law
154, the abuse and
negligence of our
animals.
Enforce all laws
and existing
regulations
regarding the use
of public roads.
− Developing a real preventive plan
and using all means of
communication, written, radial and
television for carry, in a continuous
way, different educational
campaigns (see point above).
− Improving salaries.
− Upgrading equipment as needed.
− Training the police force in line with
a law-abiding country that we
aspire to be.
− Educating police officers on the
details of Act 154 and demanding
that they enforce it.
− Raising awareness within the
citizenry on this Act and ask them
to report any violation.
− Frontally attacking and bringing to
justice those organizations
dedicated to dog fights.
− Training the police force
continuously about the details of
the laws and regulations and
demanding their enforcement. For
example:
o Use of seat belts.
o Talking over the cell phone
when driving.
o Stopping behind traffic lines
at intersections.
o Proper use of directional,
emergency and headlights.
o Use of road shoulder only for
emergency stops.
o Respect for Stop signs and
traffic lights.
− Requiring the police that they also
respect all traffic laws.
− Making aggressive trash pickup
and debris from state roads, and
requiring municipal regions to do
the same.
XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY (CONT.)
What How

54
Enforce all laws
and existing
regulations
regarding the use
of public roads
Improve
significantly the
condition of roads.
Humanization of
the correction and
rehabilitation
system.
− Ensuring compliance with the laws
through the use of cameras to
catch violations of traffic and other
laws.
− Working together with the
Department of Transportation
(DTOP), the Roads and
Transportation Authority and the
municipal regions, identify those
roads that pose a greater risk to the
safety of its users due to their
deterioration and give them higher
priority for their repair.
− Dispatch inspectors who report on
conditions and tracking their
repairs.
− Using social networks as a method
of identification of dangerous roads
and those in need of repair.
− Modernize and redesign the prison
system.
− Creating real possibilities for
rehabilitation and social reintegration
of the confined, reducing probability
of recidivism.
− Reinforcing the opportunities of
education and development of
practical skills within the prison
system.
XV. AGRICULTURE
What How

55
Puerto Rico as
agro-industrial
center of the
region, reducing
imports, creating
jobs and increasing
exports.
Reorganize the
Department of
Agriculture in such
a way that it
responds more
effectively to the
needs of farmers
and consumers.
− Maximizing the food technology
laboratory of the UPR’s Mayaguez
campus (RUM), transforming it into
a research center for research and
development of agro-industrial
products with an emphasis on
genetically unmodified products
(NONGMO).
− Promoting the investment of the Act
20 and Act 22 in the marketing and
development of agro-industrial
products in Puerto Rico.
− Encouraging value-based
agriculture focused on a value-
added strategy.
− Reopening the chicken (Picú &
Canto Alegre) processing plants to
expand production, focusing
production in meat and poultry
products with added value.
− Promoting the cooperative
movement in the development of
agro-industries.
− Optimizing the local expertise with
federal legislation (USDA & FDA).
− Reutilizing available buildings of
foreign operations into centers of
manufacture of agro-industrial
products.
− Optimizing the ports of Ponce,
Mayagüez, and Ceiba (Port of
Puerto Rico) for the import of
agricultural and export of processed
agro-industrial finished products
back to the country of origin and to
the markets in the States.
− Organizing the Department by type
of crop and geographical region,
creating a matrix structure where is
tends the needs of each type of
harvest and each region:
o Divide the island in eight
regions, which would correspond
to the municipal regions, so that
the specific needs of each region
is tended to and coordinated.
XV. AGRICULTURE (CONT.)
What How

56
Reorganize the
Department of
Agriculture so it
responds more
effectively to the
needs of farmers
and the
consumers.
− At the same time, assigning harvest
managers or directors that are in
charge of everything related to
each category (examples: coffee,
milk, vegetables, fruits, starchy,
livestock, etc.)
− Reassess all incentives, subsidies,
insurance and machinery programs
and the management of federal
funds, with the purpose of
simplifying processes and
optimizing their effectiveness:
o Integrating offices that are
now redundant.
o Eliminating those that are
not relevant.
− Integrating the efforts of the
Department of Agriculture, the Land
Authority and Planning Board to
identify and promote the use of
available agricultural lands. Again,
in coordination with the municipal
regions.
XVI. ENVIRONMENT
What How

57
Promote and
implement
sustainable
development public
policy at all levels
and in all efforts of
government.
As part of the
redevelopment of
the former
Roosevelt Roads
Naval Station in
Ceiba, use the
contaminated areas
to establish solar
and wind farms for
use inside the area.
− This will be one of the criteria of
evaluation of all governmental
management. If a project or initiative
does not meet that criterion, it will be
not approved.
− To promote the prevention and
control of luminesce pollution to
protect the natural dark environment
and bioluminescence.
− Promoting and implementing
effective programs for the recycling
of waste products and to promote
the manufacture and use of products
derived from such environmental
activity.
− Leveraging the resources of the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and its compliance
requirements to promote the
development of industries and
business:
o “Sustainable Practices Science”
o “Clean Water Act” (1972)
o “Clean Air Act” (1963)
o Local Laws
− Depoliticizing development planning
and land use. Educating government
institutions as well as civil society,
including the educational system, in
order to establish a balanced and
environmentally friendly
development, where recycling is a
priority for the country.
− Establishing a project, in conjunction
with the community, for photovoltaic
and wind energy capture:
o Evaluating the viability of this
production and transmission to
nearby residential areas.
o Coordinating with the Federal
Government to use funds of the
"Green Energy Fund".
o Make transfer of excess power to
PREPA (AEE).
XVII. TECNOLOGY
What How

58
It will be a priority
to improve and
expand information
systems and
communication
technologies and
services
supporting
government
agencies and
therefore its
citizens.
− Establishing the position of Chief
Information Officer or CIO of the
government as a member of the
Cabinet.
o Reviewing and amending the
draft law submitted to this
effect in 2013.
o This position should be
empowered with the tools
and the authority needed to
establish public policy as it
relates to best practices and
standards of computing.
− One of the priorities of the CIO
should be to promote the
professionalization of disciplines
associated with the use of
technology:
o The establishment of a uniform
structure of positions and jobs
for professional workers of TI,
in coordination with the
Personnel Office of the Central
Government.
o This must include the academic
and professional requirements
for each position and level. This
is a usual practice in the private
sector.
o Promoting the training of
government employees. From
the CIO, through the entire
chain down to the service
technicians, in such a way that
they have the capacity similar
to employees of private
companies. This, using the
leverage of accrediting
institutions such as IEEE,
CompTIA, ISACA, ISSA, and
others.
o Establishing best practice
governance, TI and services
project management,
commonly used in the private
industries, such as ITIL,
ISO/IEC and PMI.
XVII. TECNOLOGY (CONT.)
What How

59
It will be a priority
to improve and
expand information
systems and
communication
technologies and
services
supporting
Government
agencies and
therefore its
citizens.
Exchange and
integration of
information
between agencies
and within these.
o By promulgating standards of
computing according to
organizations such as ISO/IEC,
ISSA and ISACA. Here it is not
only expected that issues
essential to the safety of the
assets are addressed, but also
matters of compliance, so
important when you're working
with large amounts of data as
the Government does.
o Implementing uniform practices
in the contracting of external IT
services and the purchase of
products, in such a way that
these processes are agile and
transparent. Here, both the
ethical preparation of personnel
and technical training are key
processes.
− To promote the interaction between
the local government, the "US
Digital Service" and the Science
and Technology Trust for the
development of systems and
programming initiatives in the form
of startups.
− The CIO must undertake concrete
initiatives in this direction. Some
examples of areas for improvement,
to name just a few:
o Police Reports (“Querellas”).
o Certificates of Insurance
from the Workers’
Compensation Fund
Corporation (CFSE).
o Internal Revenue Stamps
and Vouchers (“Sellos y
Comprobantes de Rentas
Internas”) from the PR
Department of the Treasury
(“Departamento de
Hacienda”).
XVIII. STATUS
What How

60
The decolonization
of Puerto Rico is an
important issue of
human rights that
must be addressed
with urgency.
“The current
political condition
cannot be an
alternative, in view
of the decision of
the US Supreme
Court in People v.
Sánchez Valle, the
opinion of the U.S.
Department of
Justice, and
Congress in the
legislative process
of the PROMESA
Act.”
− Moderating and enabling the process
of resolution of the colonial status of
Puerto Rico without political strings
attached and without favoritism to a
particular formula:
o Serious.
o Responsible.
o Just.
o Inclusive.
− Pushing for a binding plebiscite from
the Federal Congress, with
decolonizing formulas acceptable to
the Federal Justice Department.
− The development of projects that
define these formulas, together with
a sustained economic plan which will
be presented before the Federal
Government 30 days after the
beginning of the new Administration,
will be left in the hands of the
organizations that support the
different formulas of status.
− In a period of six (6) months after the
formulas are presented, require from
the United States respect of the
affirmation of the sovereignty of
Puerto Rico, whether for formally
joining the Federation or to establish
its integration into the rest of the
international community with its own
legal identity.
− The scenario of federal legislative
provision for a binding process of
self-determination, will present the
relevant legislation under the federal
law adopted for that purpose to carry
out the plebiscite.
− Administrative support will be
provided so that the binding status
query is carried out on or before
November 15, 2017.
− The results of the query will be
disseminated in the appropriate
forums, both in the US and the
international community.
XVIII. STATUS (CONT.)
What How

61
The problem of the
status of Puerto
Rico has been for
so many years in
essence due to
three issues:
the internal
factionalism,
indifference on the
part of the
authorities, and
the political forces
and real ignorance
of the rest of the
world of the
magnitude of the
problem.
− Implementing the transition plan
towards the status chosen by the
people in coordination with the
Federal Government.
− If the Federal Government ignored
the claim of the people to self-
determination, before or after
consultation by status:
o A commission will be created
that will be constituted and will
remain active while the
decision endorsed by the
people is not addressed by the
Federal Government. This
Commission will have
representatives who will work
with the three branches of
government to make clear the
position of PR and, if
necessary, to denounce the
situation of PR at the national
level.
o Will create a "Task Force" by
the State Department of PR to
denounce internationally that
the US is violating its obligation
to the international community
freely assumed before the
International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights of
promoting and respecting the
right to self-determination of
our people, as well as the
commitment made by US
included in the ninth paragraph
of resolution 748 (VII) of 1953
with respect to the wishes of
change of the relationship
between the two countires.
− At the same time that the process
for determining the political status of
PR and in the transition to the
formula that the people choose is
completed, the government will
continue its efforts to put PR on its
feet again.

62
Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto
Rico
2016

http://www.manuelcidre.com/
Call us at: (787) 705-2016; or (787) 665-2016
Central Committee: 1301 Jesús T. Piñero Avenue, corner of De Diego Avenue, Puerto Nuevo, San Juan, PR 00920
© Manuel Cidre Governor 2016

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