Fiscal board extends access to Emergency Reserve for drought response through Sept. 10
By THE STAR STAFF
With close to half of the island now in a state of extreme drought, the Financial Oversight and Management Board has approved a 21‑day extension granting the Puerto Rico government continued access to the Emergency Reserve to fund response measures tied to the island’s ongoing drought emergency.
The authorization, issued Wednesday, allows eligible expenditures through Sept. 10. According to the weekly update from the Drought Monitor issued Thursday, extreme drought conditions have spread to cover 44.5% of Puerto Rico, while 75.2 percent of the territory is experiencing some level of drought. Data valid as of Tuesday indicate that the extreme drought category -- D3 -- now covers the largest area of the island, primarily in the southwestern, southern central and eastern regions. Another 22.2% of the territory is under severe drought, and 8.6% is under moderate drought. An additional 7.7% is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
The oversight board’s decision follows a request submitted by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Executive Director Orlando Rivera Berríos on behalf of Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, seeking additional time to process pending expenses related to Executive Orders OE‑2026‑035 and OE‑2026‑036. Those directives, signed July 31, declared a state of emergency due to declining rainfall and reservoir levels and activated a coordinated interagency response that includes water conservation measures, potable water distribution and deployment of mobile purification systems.
In an earlier authorization dated Aug. 5, the oversight board granted 15 days of access to the Emergency Reserve, which expired Aug. 20. During that period, the OMB reported $7.5 million in eligible expenditures, with an additional $18.7 million still under review. Other costs remain undetermined pending completion of procurement processes.
The newly approved extension -- covering Aug. 21 through Sept. 10 -- permits up to $18.73 million in emergency spending, limited to immediate‑action needs and subject to the OMB’s pre‑authorization procedures. The oversight board emphasized that no disbursements will be allowed after the period ends unless the government formally requests and receives another extension.
Executive Order OE‑2026‑036 outlines the emergency measures currently underway, including tanker‑truck water deliveries, temporary distribution centers, and logistical support to safeguard essential public services and public health.
The oversight board reiterated that the Emergency Reserve is intended for extraordinary events beyond the government’s control, particularly when federal assistance is unavailable or delayed. It also noted that once the access period closes, the OMB must submit a detailed accounting of all emergency expenditures.
