Comptroller supports measures to modernize oversight and registration of government contracts

 The Comptroller of Puerto Rico, Carmen Vega Fournier (center), backed legislative measures to strengthen oversight powers and modernize the government contract registration system.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Comptroller of Puerto Rico, Carmen Vega Fournier, favored a package of legislative measures aimed at strengthening the oversight capabilities of the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico (OCPR), improving audit processes and modernizing the government contract registration system.

During a public hearing of the Government Committee of the House of Representatives, Vega Fournier endorsed House Bill 1263, by Representative Victor Pares Otero, which amends the organic law of the OCPR to impose the payment of costs and attorney’s fees on witnesses who, frivolously or recklessly, refuse to appear or hand over required documents during an investigation.

The comptroller indicated that the measure complements existing legal mechanisms by promoting timely cooperation and reducing delays in audit processes.

He also supported House Bill 1264, which proposes the creation of a standardized platform for drafting and registering government contracts. He explained that the current system still relies on printed documents and PDF files, a process he described as “archaic” and one that limits the visibility of all government contracts.

Vega Fournier noted that digitization would allow for greater traceability of documents from their creation to their final registration, strengthening internal controls and government transparency. She added that the platform will require an investment of approximately $3 million, funds already included in the agency’s budget, although its implementation will need to be gradual and accompanied by training for public entities.

For his part, Parés Otero emphasized that the centralized system would allow for more efficient verification of the information contained in the contracts and proposed that the tool be available to the three branches of government and the municipalities.

The comptroller also dismissed concerns about a possible impact on municipal autonomy, clarifying that the initiative does not alter the powers of mayors regarding public procurement, but rather seeks to eliminate paper processes and modernize the registry.

In addition, Vega Fournier supported Senate Bill 808, which would give the OCPR greater discretion to determine the frequency of audits of the Office of Government Ethics (OEG), according to available resources and the Annual Audit Plan.

Currently, the law requires audits of the OEG at least every two years. However, the comptroller maintained that staff reductions in the auditing area necessitate prioritizing resources and focusing efforts on higher-risk areas.

“Effective oversight requires adequate tools, timely access to information, and structures that promote prevention and accountability,” Vega Fournier concluded.