PDP sets its agenda for 2nd legislative session

By The Star Staff

Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary General Manuel Calderón Cerame said over the weekend that the party will scrutinize government actions during the second regular legislative session, which starts today.

“The Popular Democratic Party held its third Legislative Conference, where the agenda for the second regular session of 2025 was outlined on the following topics: supporting the resident commissioner’s initiative to achieve Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Puerto Rico, examining this government for its inability to manage the energy crisis, and proposing solutions and measures to address education and public safety,” Calderón Cerame said, while announcing workshops for party members.

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, the PDP president, discussed topics related to communication and oversight, while Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, the PDP minority leader in the upper chamber, stated that “in our case in the Senate, oversight is a function we perform with a great sense of responsibility and data verification.”

“This professional training initiative contributes positively to the work we do, updating various strategies and initiatives,” Hernández Ortiz, said.

House Minority Leader Héctor Ferrer Santiago said “our entire House delegation is focused on the path of work leading up to the start of the next legislative session. Our agenda will be centered on holding the [Gov.] Jenniffer González [Colón] administration accountable, with priority given to two critical areas for the country: reliable energy and sustainable economic development.”

Puerto Rico’s energy sector faces significant challenges, including a fragile and outdated grid, reliance on imported fossil fuels, high electricity costs and vulnerability to extreme weather events. The private operators, particularly LUMA Energy, which is responsible for electric power transmission and distribution, have been unable to solve the problems. The governor promised to cancel the contract with LUMA Energy but has yet to do so.

González Colón, meanwhile, has been criticized for appointing Roberto Lefranc Fortuño as the new director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company on Friday. The agency had been headless since late June following the resignation of Eric Santiago Justiniano. Lefranc Fortuño, critics say, has little experience in promoting foreign investment in Puerto Rico.