Permitting process challenges to be focus of engineering summit

Francheska Rivera, president of the Institute of Civil Engineers

By The Star Staff

In light of the persistent challenges presented by the permitting process for infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, the Institute of Civil Engineers (IIC by its initials in Spanish), in collaboration with the Engineers and Surveyors Association of Puerto Rico, will convene over a thousand professionals from engineering, surveying and related fields next week.

The educational summit is imperative for addressing the current state of the industry on the island, establishing clear priorities, and forging a path to advance safe and sustainable infrastructure, organizers said.

The event, Mega Civil Friday, is scheduled for May 9, kicking off Engineers and Surveyors Week in Puerto Rico, which officially runs from May 11 to May 17. This year, professionals will again gather at the San Juan Convention Center, with proceedings starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.

“We have organized this mega-event for 26 years with unwavering commitment and dedication. The topics we have selected are directly relevant to the pressing challenges our industry faces,” IIC President Francheska J. Rivera said. “The obstacles within the permitting process have lingered for too long, which is why this 26th edition will place a strong emphasis on permitting as a primary topic. We will deliver 12 educational modules that are not only timely but also essential to address the trends and challenges within our profession.”

Rivera also announced a panel featuring key government leaders responsible for managing major infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, in response to Hurricane Maria’s aftermath. The panel, “Infrastructure in Action: Priorities, Progress, and the Road Ahead,” promises to provide invaluable insights into the strategies, challenges, and advancements in transportation, roads, water supply, energy, housing and recovery.

“The panel will consist of officials from the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), the Department of Housing, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the Puerto Rico Water and Sewer Authority (PRASA), and the Office for Reconstruction, Recovery, and Resilience (COR3), Rivera said. “These leaders are instrumental in project development, and we fully expect their contributions to be incredibly beneficial to our profession.”

The key topics outlined for Mega Civil Friday will cover a variety of crucial areas, including the role of permits in project development, new executive orders issued in 2025, territorial planning, classification and qualification, land use management, regulations and codes, and the legal framework governing the permitting process in Puerto Rico. The event will also directly confront the challenges that must be addressed within the permitting system.

“It is imperative that we stay ahead of the curve,” Rivera stressed. “The progression of infrastructure, recovery projects, and Puerto Rico’s economic development depend heavily on our expertise as professionals in this field. We must take responsibility and commit to ongoing education.”

The IIC president further noted that additional modules will tackle surveying, concrete, structures, geotechnics, project management, water and environmental resources, construction technologies, earthquake preparedness and transportation.

As with previous events, this year’s Mega Civil Friday will also provide an invaluable platform for third- and fourth-year engineering students to showcase their research projects. Confirmed participants include students from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus; Polytechnic University; Caribbean University; Ana G. Méndez University; and the Inter American-University, Bayamón Campus, which offers a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering.

The event’s organizers noted that for the past 25 years, Mega Civil Friday has been a driving force for continuing education, fostering the exchange of ideas, and promoting critical professional alliances in the engineering and surveying fields.