Orocovis community leader: Comptroller’s report reveals administrative shortcomings

Yesenia López Rosario

By The Star Staff

Yesenia López Rosario, a citizen spokesperson and community leader in Orocovis, spoke out on Wednesday in response to the findings of the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico, which she noted show a worrying lack of control, planning and transparency in the municipal administration of Orocovis between 2019 and 2024.

According to audit report OC-25-84, the municipality paid $195,592 for services that were not included in the formal contracts. The report highlights that the municipal finance director authorized the payments, despite the fact that the pre-auditors warned that the expenses would not proceed.

Also revealed in the audit report were: a duplicate payment of $8,502 for a truck rental; the dividing of $330,500 into three contracts to avoid the public auction process, thus violating the law and the principles of sound administration; the execution of work without the corresponding permits; and the late registration of contracts and amendments totaling $11 million, some with delays of up to a year, which limits the people’s access to essential public information.

“This report confirms what we have been denouncing for years,” said López, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Orocovis last year under the Popular Democratic Party banner. “In Orocovis there has been a clear lack of administrative capacity that can no longer be ignored. This is not an attack, it is a legitimate demand for transparency and good governance. The people deserve to know how their money is being used.”

López also emphasized that while the municipal budget has decreased, failures and administrative disorganization have been increasing, a clear sign that it is not just about budget constraints, but a lack of direction and commitment to public service.

“The people of Orocovis have the right to demand answers and corrective actions,” she said. “To supervise is not to disrespect, it is to exercise citizenship. Every mistake pointed out by the Comptroller directly affects the services and development of our communities.”