PRIDCO chief has resigned for personal reasons

Eric Santiago Justiniano, the former executive director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company

By THE STAR STAFF

Eric Santiago Justiniano, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), has resigned from his position to return to private law practice, Government Public Affairs Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo said Tuesday.

“Yes, that’s correct. He submitted his resignation for personal reasons, and I won’t provide further details,” Torres Montalvo said at a press conference at La Fortaleza. “He submitted his resignation at the end of June. While I don’t have all the specifics, it appears he had already handed in his resignation letter. In the meantime, PRIDCO’s deputy secretary, Carlos Ríos, is overseeing the agency, ensuring that all work panels and functions continue smoothly.”

When asked if any further resignations are expected from Gov. Jenniffer González Colón’s cabinet, Torres Montalvo replied, “We don’t anticipate any additional resignations.”

“All of our secretaries and agency heads are effectively performing their duties,” he said.

The Senate confirmed Santiago Justiniano as the new executive director of PRIDCO in March.

Santiago Justiniano, who was president of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association until his appointment as head of PRIDCO in January, highlighted during the confirmation process his challenges and achievements since joining the agency.

“In these first 60 working days, we have received 56 offers or inquiries to establish operations in Puerto Rico,” Santiago Justiniano said. “Rentals, the income that PRIDCO plans to receive in the coming years, already have seen an increase of $2.6 million that will help us improve our finances so we can better serve the industry.”