Senator seeks to give autonomy to permitting office to hasten permits

By THE STAR STAFF

Sen. Wilmer Reyes Berríos introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at reorganizing Puerto Rico’s permitting system by restoring the Office of Permit Management (OGPe by its initials in Spanish) as an autonomous public entity and clarifying its authority over the island’s permit processes.

Senate Bill (SB) 968 seeks to address what lawmakers and business groups have long described as a major barrier to economic growth: a slow, inconsistent permitting system that affects investment and job creation. Reyes Berríos said years of administrative reorganizations have created confusion over who controls the system, resulting in uneven criteria, delays and uncertainty for businesses, investors, municipalities and professionals.

“The permitting system needs focus, functional autonomy and dedicated technical personnel to stop being an obstacle and become an ally for economic development,” Reyes Berríos said in a statement. “When permits lack agility and certainty, projects stall, costs increase and Puerto Rico loses competitiveness.”

Under the bill, OGPe would regain operational and technical autonomy, with clearly defined lines of authority and responsibility for administering the islandwide permitting framework. The measure aims to reduce contradictory interpretations, strengthen decision‑making based on technical standards and improve coordination across agencies.

Reyes Berríos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Artificial Intelligence, said the proposal is designed to make project timelines more predictable and lower transaction costs for the private sector. He emphasized that the legislation would not expand government but instead would streamline an existing function by consolidating oversight within a single specialized entity.

The measure echoes principles established in Law 161‑2009, approved during another New Progressive Party administration, which sought to create a more agile and transparent permitting system. It also aligns with Law 122‑2017, known as the “New Government Act,” a structural reform that aimed to modernize government operations and eliminate duplicative processes.

Supporters of SB 968 argue that a more efficient permitting system is essential to facilitating business activity, aiding small and medium‑size enterprises, attracting new investment and accelerating projects in housing, infrastructure, tourism and other key sectors.

Reyes Berríos described the proposal as a step toward a modernized, long‑term permitting framework.

“Simplifying is not deregulating, and it is not growing government,” he said. “It means creating a clearer, more agile and functional structure.”