By The Star Staff
During his participation in the General Contractors Association of Puerto Rico’s 50th Convention this past weekend, William Villafañe Ramos, the New Progressive Party candidate for resident commissioner, spoke about his proposals and priorities regarding the reconstruction of the island’s energy system.
“Energy transformation is possible and we will achieve it with your help,” Villafañe said. “Rest assured, because that is my record, that I work day and night to streamline processes and eliminate bureaucracy, because I am committed to once and for all solving this great problem of energy stability in Puerto Rico.”
In response to questions from a panel, the senator also elaborated on efforts to bring in employees from abroad through the H-2B program to help streamline the construction industry by allowing people with undefined immigration status in the United States to work on construction projects funded with federal dollars.
“I will work to facilitate the H-2B visa process by seeking to establish a much more flexible process when it comes to a reconstruction project like the one we [face] in Puerto Rico,” the candidate said. “Projects financed with federal funds have certain terms and should be more flexible and given priority. In the case of overseas jurisdictions, they should also be assigned priority Villafañe also said he is in talks with the government of the Dominican Republic regarding a collaborative request to the White House and other key federal agencies to facilitate Dominican workers’ assistance in construction projects in Puerto because it is more difficult for additional labor to arrive.”
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“We are going to work from day one to seek these mechanisms through congressional legislation and administrative decisions of the White House, the State Department and Homeland Security,” he said.
Villafañe also stated that once he is seated in the U.S. Congress in January, he will demand a full review of the status of the existing federal programs through which funds are allocated so that Puerto Rico is included and can participate and compete on equal terms.
“It is essential to intervene to eliminate bureaucracy so that the federal funds allocated are not lost and to make the most of them, requesting a budget review given inflation,” he said. “We have structured how we will go agency by agency and to [other] federal offices, and until they [sit down with] me I will not leave there.”
The candidate reiterated to the assembled contractors that they are “a fundamental part of the Puerto Rico we have achieved and the Puerto Rico we long for.”
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