Governor highlights first-year achievements, touches on priorities for 2026

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón defended her administration’s record Tuesday, asserting that her government has been “proactive and focused on measurable results,” despite what she described as attempts to overshadow her work with political controversies.

Looking ahead to 2026, González Colón said her priorities will center on executing her government agenda and advancing the fight for statehood.

“This year, some tried to make my work invisible and prevent people from knowing what has been done and how they can benefit from government efforts,” the governor said. “My priority is to govern, execute, and fulfill what we promised the people. That’s why the government plan is followed by every agency -- it’s the roadmap for compliance with the commitments made to the people. There is work, there is commitment, and there are results.”

The governor’s administration has been plagued with criticisms from the start, she said. One of the first actions by her appointee to head the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources was to halt an investigation into alleged illegal construction and mangrove cutting in La Parguera -- a case involving the governor’s in-laws. Legal experts call the move a rollback of environmental protections and accuse the administration of shielding personal interest.

In May 2025, the governor withdrew three high-profile cabinet nominees -- including for secretary of state -- after clashes with the Senate. Critics accused her team of deficient vetting processes, calling it a sign of internal disorganization and damaging public perception of her administration’s competence.

The governor also has been criticized over delays in deploying federal funds for solar infrastructure, which opponents say undermines efforts to improve grid resilience and access to renewable energy.

González Colón emphasized that her administration has delivered on major promises, including initiating the process to cancel the contract with LUMA Energy. However, she did not say which company will replace the private operator of PREPA’s transmission and distribution system.

“We’ve already started removing LUMA with three lawsuits in court, after exhausting efforts to remedy the company’s poor service to the people,” she said. “During the campaign, the opposition claimed they would remove LUMA; today, as I fulfill that promise, they seem to have changed their position and now defend them. We avoided the massive blackouts predicted due to lack of generation by adding more than 1,200 megawatts of new generation capacity. We are also advancing the acquisition of 800 megawatts of temporary generation and 3,000 megawatts of new energy.”

The governor highlighted financial reforms, including securing the first certified budget, which she said marks the beginning of Puerto Rico’s exit from the Financial Oversight and Management Board. Her administration also absorbed costs during the U.S. federal government shutdown to keep local operations running and secured aid for federal employees, she noted.

“This is crucial for Puerto Rico’s economic development and stability,” González Colón said.

The governor also touted efforts to promote reshoring and manufacturing expansion, creating more than 4,000 jobs and attracting $2.2 billion in investment through 17 expansions. Employment statistics show 8,000 more jobs compared to October 2024, while exports in July reached their highest level in 15 years. Cement sales rose 45.4% year-over-year, equivalent to 228,000 additional sacks compared to November 2024 -- indicators of economic growth, she noted.

Several measures have been signed, including Law 70-2025: guaranteeing the right of students with disabilities to equal access to summer camps; Law 6-2025: the Single Digital File Law for people with disabilities; Law 9-2025: creating the State Liaison Office for the Support and Registration of Rare Diseases; Law 46-2025: amendments to strengthen the Bill of Rights for Older Adults; and Executive Order 010: creating the Comprehensive Care Unit for Older Adults, attached to La Fortaleza.

The administration, González Colón pointed out, has implemented initiatives to promote adoption, such as the first digital platform for submitting adoption applications and completing initial orientation through the State Voluntary Adoption Registry (REVA). In collaboration with Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, the recruitment of adoptive families for children in need of placement was strengthened. To date, 137 children have been adopted, the governor noted.

The Family Department, meanwhile, has some 365 families registered in the REVA and about 144 minors are ready to be placed in a family, she said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: So that our employees can enjoy the Christmas holiday, the STAR will not publish on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025.