Manuel Cidre Issues Proposal

Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto Rico

2016

WORK PLAN FOR THE REAL TRANSFORMATION OF

PUERTO RICO

October 1, 2016

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Dear people of Puerto Rico: This document is the result of the efforts of many volunteers, who have worked closely with me. Together we have built a new roadmap for our country, which proudly have titled: "Work Plan for the Real Transformation of Puerto Rico". Our vision is: A rich Puerto Rico, a center of knowledge, empowered and responsible; a Puerto Rico of opportunities for all, which takes care of its elderly and protects its children; a healthy, educated and safe people, of whom our children and our children's children can be proud; a country proud of its cultural diversity, which protects its natural resources, who seeks and works incessantly for a better quality of life, and where the priority is the well-being of all the people and not the particular agendas; a Puerto Rico where people from all social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds can live side-by-side, in peace and with the potential for real and sustained progress. This is a dynamic work plan; our intention is not for it to be a straitjacket; that not is the mission of good ideas. Our mission is continue incorporating innovative and relevant ideas that can help us develop a tangible and viable work plan for the real transformation of Puerto Rico. Therefore, this plan will be modified periodically to incorporate those good ideas contributed by all persons who wish to contribute to our progress and our future, so that it becomes a true expression of participatory governance and real progress. “El Plan para la Transformación Real de Puerto Rico”, the Spanish title of our plan, does not belong to us, it belongs to the people of Puerto Rico. Your comments and recommendations will be well received. Please send them to our e-mail address ([email protected]). As Governor of all the people of Puerto Rico, I will fight with all my strength and all my abilities to make Puerto Rico the country that we want and deserve, for all who were born here or have decided to someday make this beautiful land their final resting place.

Manuel Cidre Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto Rico

INDRODUCTION

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PAGE

I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION & VISION?

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II. ETHICAL PACT FOR THE UPCOMING 2016 ELECTIONS 6

III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT 9

IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET 13

V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 17

VI. REGIONALIZATION 19

VII. TAXES 21

VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 22

IX. TOURISM 28

X. INFRASTRUCTURE 32

XI. EDUCATION 35

XII. HEALTH 48

XIII. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 51

XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY 52

XV. AGRICULTURE 56

XVI. ENVIRONMENT 58

XVII. TECHNOLOGY 59

XVIII. STATUS 61

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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My name is Manuel Cidre, but many people know me as “Manolo”. I am an administrator, bread manufacturer and Puerto Rican entrepreneur with more than de 30 years of experience in business administration. I’m founder of Los Cidrines, one of the main manufacturers and distributors of bread and bakery products in Puerto Rico. My commitment to our island has driven me to serve on various community and philanthropic organizations as well as to be part of several entrepreneurial committees, as will be detailed next. During the past several years I have been asked to participate in countless conferences and radio and television talk-shows, to give my opinion on the business situation of Puerto Rico. Many of these discussions have also dealt with matters of public policy. I truly believe in the rebirth of Puerto Rico by way of economic recovery and sustained growth. This, through a plan focused on economic development and governmental transformation. Today, I call upon all of you to join this great quest to fight for the Puerto Rico that we all need and deserve; a Puerto Rico that triumphs over pessimism and indifference; a Puerto Rico that recognizes its weaknesses and values its strengths; a Puerto Rico that stands up and dares to be different. What is my mission? To bring into our government administration those methods and practices that promote, in a measurable way, the effectiveness and efficiency of all agencies and public corporations. To manage our country with transparency, always being truthful and with accountability on the achievement of specific goals and objectives. What is my vision? To transform Puerto Rico into a prosperous country, with opportunities for its citizens through an administration that, with a sense of urgency, addresses the more pressing needs of the island. To put the attention and the loyalty of the government on the wellbeing of Puerto Rico, not in any specific individual, political party or particular agenda. Profile of my experience, work, achievements, recognitions and education: Experience: Organizations: Los Cidrines Puerto Rico Products Association Founder Past President – Board of Directors Upjohn Pharmaceutical Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association

I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION & VISION?

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Pharmaceutical Representative Past President – Board of Directors

Organizations: (Cont.) Compañía para el Desarrollo Integral de la Península de Cantera Past Member – Board of Directors Agenda Ciudadana Past Member – Board of Directors UMET SUAGM – Public Policy Institute Past Member – Board of Directors Centro Margarita Past Member – Board of Directors Small Business Development & Technology Center Past President – Board of Directors SER de Puerto Rico Past Member – Board of Directors Echar Pa' Lante Past Member – Board of Directors Recognitions and Awards: Top Ten Business Leaders of Puerto Rico Caribbean Business Citizen of the Year – Private Sector Caribbean Business Entrepreneurial Achievement Award Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Zenith Awards 2010 – Citizen of the Year Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Héctor Jiménez Juarbe Award Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association

President’s Special Award Chamber of Commerce of Ponce & South of PR Distinguished Entrepreneur Award Asociación Hombres y Mujeres de Empresa Good Neighbor Award American Red Cross of Puerto Rico Private Enterprise Excellence Award Economic Development Company of Puerto Rico Entrepreneurship Award Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Manufacturer of the Year Food Industry Distribution and Marketing Association (MIDA) Industrialist of the Year Puerto Rico Manufacturers’ Association Corporate Social Responsibility Award Food Industry Distribution and Marketing Association (MIDA) Citizen of the Year Boys Scouts of America – Puerto Rico Council Hall of Fame Business Leader Caribbean Business Education: Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico BBA, Finance & Marketing

I. WHO IS MANUEL CIDRE AND WHAT IS HIS MISSION & VISION? (CONT.)

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This document contains a pact of ethical conduct intended to impact public policy and decision making in such a way as to guarantee the just and democratic development of our Puerto Rican society. The main objective of this pact is to ensure a transparent public administration, that places the COMMON GOOD above any partisan interest. It also aims to do away with the privileges that have been afforded to the political class, which have only served to distance the government from its constituents. For this pact to be feasible and come to life, a real commitment from all sides is needed. The political parties, the legislative chambers, the candidates for governor, mayors and other elected officials are needed in this endeavor. I. Commitments for the Political Campaign

A. Level of the Political Discourse – Respect & Austerity:

• I pledge to conduct a campaign with positive content and respect. A campaign where aggressions of all types will be condemned by all participants of the political process, both candidates and public officials.

• The political campaign should be constructive; one where mutual respect is not the exception but the rule. Where the political discourse on the issues of Puerto Rico is conducted with civility, focused on proposals and solutions, and where personal attacks have no place in the debates. Always respecting, with words and actions, the other candidates, their political parties and their followers.

• The issues of the campaign will take into consideration the diversity and the minorities, which are integral to our democratic system of government and tradition.

• Never use, for the political campaign, money from institutions or individuals whose resources are not transparent and whose objectives are not aligned with ethical principles and values.

• Total transparency of the contributions and expenses of the campaign are paramount. Mechanisms shall be in place at all times to allow for public scrutiny of records.

• Regard for the environment should be a priority. Visual as well as auditory pollution should be avoided by not plastering with posters, and not producing unnecessary loud noises at activities.

• Limit, in a severe way, the expenses of the political campaign, thus tempering it with the economic reality of our island.

II. ETHICAL PACT FOR THE 2016 ELECTIONS

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II. As an Elected Official

A. True Democratization of Public Administration / Elimination of Privileges:

• Manage government with fidelity placed in Puerto Rico and not in political parties or particular agendas.

• Human development and work against inequality and poverty as a priority on the agenda.

• Change the social model from one of welfare to one of development and independence.

• Promote a culture of work and increase the participation in the workforce.

• Total transparency of income, goods and patrimony of public servants, as essential data to detect conflicts of interest.

• Make public all criteria for the selection of political appointees, with the objective of eliminating appointment practices which in the past have disrupted the operation of agencies by politicizing them.

• All political appointees will sign, the day they are hired, a pact of loyalty to the people. This pact

will include a letter of resignation, with no set date, to be executed if the appointee violates the pact.

• Employment security will not be conditioned to political party affiliation. Instead, capacity, efficiency, productivity and professionalism will be the common goal.

• There will be zero tolerance for the sidelining of public servants who do not align themselves with a particular party or ideology.

• Make public, prior to the election, the members of the cabinet who will execute the government’s platform. This will allow for the presentation of their capabilities and experience to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of their assigned posts.

• Reduce to an absolute minimum the expenses incurred in security details of the governor and cabinet members.

B. Transparency in Financing and Expenses:

• Zero tolerance to unnecessary expenses and corruption of any kind.

• All government contracts will need to be associated with a natural person. No contract will be

granted where people can hide behind corporations. Contractors will have to show their face and be subject to the scrutiny of the Puerto Rico Controller and Ethics Office.

• The Civil Service in Puerto Rico will emulate the Federal Government model.

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• All public affairs will be conducted with transparency and due process for accountability.

• Eliminate duplicated positions in public agencies, making an exhaustive evaluation of the post’s functions and responsibilities, with the objective of making the best use of public funds.

• Develop a map of public projects with a set time for completion and meticulous accounting for the use of all public funds.

• Defeated candidates in general elections will not be contracted as government advisors as is now a common practice.

• Eliminate all contracts for legal services in those agencies that have their own legal divisions.

• Activate the functions and resources of the State Elections Commission only on election years. Reassign all career employees to other government agencies that give essential services, once the election cycle is over.

C. Economic and Human Development – Develop our economy in harmony with the environment:

• Foster economic development by empowering our citizens within the framework of a

government that serves and tends to the needs of our Puerto Rican society.

• Make sure that our projects and public policies do not affect in a negative way our patrimony and our natural resources.

• Create the environment to incentivize our emerging entrepreneurs, ensuring the appropriate and effective utilization of such incentives.

• Establish a uniform statistical analysis system to be applied and utilized at all levels of our government operations.

• Incorporate new goals for sustainable development as the ones adopted by the United Nations for 2016-2030, as per the commitment we have with our people and humanity as a whole.

This historical moment requires of the political will to take action. It also requires of much common sense to execute the best plans which will bring about the rebirth of Puerto Rico. By signing this document, I commit myself to follow and obey completely everything written herein, without reservations of any kind. I invite all candidates to elective political positions to endorse this pledge by signing this pact, so that togetherwe can build, with our effort and responsibility, the new Puerto Rico that we all want and deserve.

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Manuel Cidre Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto Rico

WORK PLAN FOR THE REAL TRANSFORMATION OF PUERTO RICO

III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT What How

“To put back our country on the road to recovery and sustainable growth.”

Restructure the debt within the framework of a Fiscal Control Board (FCB) under the "PROMESA" Act.

– Debt restructuring should be conducted transparently with all groups of holders of debt, recognizing the economic limitations of each issuer and respecting the constitutional and contractual rights of each issue. In this context:

o Recognize that in court, bondholders have the advantage of making their rights prevail.

o Restore credibility with good faith and transparency and with a plan of restructuring of government that show the intention of complying with our obligations.

o Benefit from the debt moratorium ("stay") to accommodate the needs of liquidity of each agency to ensure essential services.

o Cuts of principal at agencies and issuers that are insolvent, according to the requirements of each issuer.

o Respect the debts guaranteed by the Constitution (GO’s) and those that have adequate safeguards. This will allow for a faster return to the market.

o Negotiate advantageous terms as circumstances allow, including repurchase of obligations at discount from bondholders who do not want to participate in restructured bonds.

o Change the message to investors and tourists and change the discourse of "humanitarian crisis", which discourages investors and

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depresses the economy even more.

III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT (CONT.) What How

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Restructuring of the central and municipal governments. Establish a strict control of expenses and increase efficiency.

Within the context of the Fiscal Control Board (FCB):

– Restructure the government based on a model of regionalization of administrative services with the aim of significantly reducing its size, within the existing constitutional context. (See "Regionalization".)

– Redirecting budget allocations to support those areas which need to be reinforced in the framework of the work plan (economic development, education, health, and safety).

– Realigning the municipal governments in 8 functional regions that will absorb the majority of the administrative functions that now are replicated in 78 municipalities.

– At the same time, align the services of the central government, as much as possible, in these 8 regions, so there is a greater and more effective congruence of services.

– Significantly reducing the budget of La Fortaleza, including:

o The elimination of La Fortaleza

as the residence of the Governor and his family.

o Elimination of the Office of the First Lady.

o Reduce the budget for consultants.

o Reduce to a minimum necessary the escort of the Governor, his family and all those members of the constitutional cabinet and agencies.

o Reduce or eliminate expenses of the former Governors and their escorts.

III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT (CONT.) What How

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“To put back our country on the road to recovery and sustainable growth.”

Implement a plan of economic development in the short, medium and long term, which puts the country back on the road to recovery and sustainable growth. Address the deficit of the government retirement systems. Legislative Efficiency.

Within the context of the Fiscal Control Board (FCB):

– Using successful examples of other U.S. jurisdictions and other countries.

– Supporting the Coalition Pact of the Private Sector.

– Emphasizing the measurement of the success of any initiative in a uniform and scientific fashion:

o Strengthening the resources of

the Institute of Statistics for those purposes.

– Modifying, prospectively, all retirement plans into defined-contribution retirement plans.

– Re-capitalizing the retirement plans of the central government and teachers.

– Disposing adequately of agencies and properties, earmarking funds exclusively to pension funds.

– With the product of the economies generated by the governmental reorganization, make contributions to retirement, so that present and future retirees can receive their pensions.

– Investigating the abuses that have affected the Retirement Systems and take corrective or legal action.

– Implementing a single chamber legislature, validated democratically by the people.

– Proposing a budget reduction of the legislature.

– Completing the restructuring of the legislature under the concept of citizen legislator.

– Reducing the time and costs of legislative sessions.

III. FISCAL SITUATION AND PUBLIC DEBT (CONT.)

What How

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Legislative Efficiency.

– Reducing the budget allocated to legislators to hire advisers and strengthen a group of legislative advisors (preferably career employees) which serve all legislators in the Office of Legislative Services.

– Eliminating once and for all of the legislative budget entries for diets that are not necessary.

– Assessing the level of compensation of legislators. Their current pay is totally disproportionate compared with other jurisdictions with an income per capita much greater than Puerto Rico.

– Eliminating legislative assignments ("Pork Barrel Funds"): those that are worthwhile must be part of the budget from the General Fund and be subject to the rigor of an evaluation.

IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET What How

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“No matter the size and origin of expenditure, if it does not bring value to the citizen and to the country, it will be eliminated."

Effective management of the budget.

Simplify the structure of agencies and corporations.

– A government plan based on transparency and prudent administration of the taxpayer’s money, where the emphasis of Government management will be to establish public policy and overseeing with absolute transparency and accountability.

– Establishing consistent methodologies of performance and metrics, where the data provided by the Institute of Statistics are a fundamental part of this process.

– Implementing innovative ways to do more with less, questioning structures and existing processes.

– By promoting a more efficient and effective government that allows redirection of resources in the service of citizens, eliminating bureaucratic processes and structures. This includes the elimination of administrative political appointees; resources that should be redirected to direct service to the citizen and to revenues control.

– Professionalizing human capital, integrating the use of technology to the maximum.

– Selling unused Government properties.

– Reducing by 70% of private properties leased by the government.

– Eliminating the practice of hiring external services in agencies that have internal departments.

– In conjunction with Municipal Councils, encourage the rehabilitation of abandoned properties making them available to new and emerging companies.

– Consolidating and eliminating agencies to minimize the duplication of administrative processes.

IV. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET (CONT.) What How

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Streamline, restructure and strengthen the structures of agencies and corporations.

– Setting as a goal, the design of a small and efficient government in accordance with the decline in population and economic contraction:

o Economies via technological

advances. o Limit the operational

expenditure of the government to no more than 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP) or 10% of the total population.

o A cap of 50 to 60 agencies, everything else is consolidated in others.

– Evaluating public corporations that provide commercial services to citizens and to consider the complete or partial transfer to employee, cooperatives or private companies.

– For Example:

o Power generation - AEE (PREPA)

o Integrate customer Service AEE (PREPA) and AAA (PRASA)

o Public BuildingsAuthority. o Operation and Maintenance of

ports. o Maritime Transport Authority. o Metropolitan bus authority.

– Transferring to the corresponding

region/municipality all those agencies or corporations with particular missions (Cantera, Enlace, etc.).

– Encouraging the creation of companies, under the cooperative model, where their employee-owners provide the services now provided by the government. Ex.: school canteens and mass transit.


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Streamline, restructure and strengthen the structures of agencies and corporations.

– Accelerating the use of public/private partnerships (PPP) for the construction and operation of infrastructure improvements needed for economic and social development of PR.

– Regionalizing public services to achieve economies of scale and make these 8 self-sufficient regions composed of existing municipalities, thus eliminating the need for subsidies from the central government and preserving its municipal identity. (See "Regionalization")

– Similarly, align as much as possible the government agencies to these municipal regions:

o Education, Police and Health. – By centralizing certain processes

(e.g., planning of infrastructure projects) and delegating execution to regions (for example, maintenance of roads and schools).

– Simplifying administrative processes and services to the citizen with the integration of technology. Increasing the online services and integrating citizen service offices. (services of several agencies in a single unit).

– Consolidating into a single unit the offices of Ombudsman for women, people of advanced age, veterans, patients, citizen with disabilities, etc.

– Consolidating agencies that provide the same type of services or whose nature is similar.

– Examples:

o CFSE, ACCA, SINOT, y ASES under an insurance model of health services.

o Education, Recreation and Sports and Culture.


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Foster a culture of philanthropy to reduce the role of the government in subsidizing non-governmental organizations.

– Evaluating and proceeding based on merits with subsidies to organizations that are more effective that the government in giving services direct to the needier.

– Given the economic situation, subsidies to entities that do not give direct services and/or have the ability to generate their own resources, will have to be eliminated.

– Through entities such as Community Financial Consultants, help charities:

o Improve their administrative

processes. o Develop their ability to attract

funds with proposals to the Federal Government, foundations, and entities such as United Funds (United Way).

o Improve their capacities for collection of donations from the public.

V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES What How

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Reorganize the system of employees of the government to create a Civil Service for career employees, following the models of the Federal Government of the US, France, and Great Britain. Establish structures and processes to improve control and increase transparency.

– Investing in the training of civil servants.

– Increases and advancements for public employees will be based on the results of evaluations and by merit; promoting a culture of excellence in the service public.

– Associate bonuses with the increase of GDP.

– Creating a single system of classification, evaluation, remuneration and removal of all public employees (Executive Branch, Legislative and Judicial).

– Improving the compensation of public employees and rationalizing the benefits (vacation, illness, retirement, health plans) consistent with those offered by the private sector.

– Reducing the number of political appointees by 85%, assigning their responsibilities to career employees:

o It should be noted that in the Government of PR there are more than 4,000 positions of trust. That exceed even those of the Federal Government.

o The positions of trust are reduced for the purpose of depoliticizing the civil service.

o Reduce the contracted services engaged in tasks that can be assigned to career employees.

V. PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (CONT.) What How

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Establish structures and processes to improve control and increase transparency.

– Re-establishing the Office of the Inspector General, modeled on the federal OIG, as a supervisory entity that evaluates compliance with effective and efficient processes and the appropriate use of public funds.

– Creating the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, integrating the functions of the Government Development Bank, Department of the Treasury, Cooperative Commissions and other similar functions.

– Redefining the functions of the Government Development Bank (GDB), eliminating its bank functions and focusing it as fiscal agent.

– Redefining the functions of the Economic Development Bank (EDB), under the Department of Economic Development, focusing on strategic areas of economic development as a local SBA.

– Splitting from the Department of the Treasury (Hacienda) the revenue collection functions, thus creating a local IRS. Both entities would report separately to the Secretary of the Treasury.

VI. REGIONALIZATION What How

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Government Restructuring Plan (8 Regions)

“Puerto Rico faces its worst administrative, fiscal and economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 30’s.”

Organize the municipal government in eight (8) administrative regions, optimizing the administrative powers and reducing redundancies of processes.

– Maintaining and protecting the geographical and cultural existence of the seventy-eight (78) municipalities of the country, with their respective mayors as major political figures on them.

– With an administrative structure that will remove the redundancy in the operating expenses of the regions.

– Establishing at the same time a process of proximity to the citizenship in the provision of services, and steps that will result in efficacy and efficiency, to the eliminate layers of bureaucracy that are now part of the centralist model.

– Restoring the principle of merit and transparency in public service.

– Democratizing governance resulting in a transfer of the current "governing" model to a model of "governance".

VI. REGIONALIZATION (CONT.) What How

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Government Restructuring Plan (8 Regions)

“Regionalization puts on equal footing all municipalities, including those most isolated, including Vieques and Culebra.”

Organize the municipal government in eight (8) administrative regions, optimizing the administrative powers and reducing redundancies of processes.

– Governance that will allow empowerment by and for our citizens in a way that takes into account the needs and prerogatives of social sectors that are usually ignored, highlighting in this way democracy as a central instrument for the quest for equality and against poverty.

– At the same time, this new model of

public administration will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in savings that will serve to address the restructuring of debt and relieve the tax burden, reinserting these savings to stimulate the growth of the economy.

VII. TAXES What How

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Establish a taxation system, equitable and fair to all sectors of the country. That encourages work, savings, investment and production. A system focused on the stability and growth of the economy. A system in which the cost of compliance is reduced and controls are agile.

– Lowering rates or adjusting individual and corporate tax brackets, being more efficient in the collection of the consumption tax.

– Reestablish an Earned Income Credit for low income workers.

– Eliminate inefficient incentives, credits exclusions, exemptions, and deductions.

– Eliminate / reduce taxes that inadequately increase costs to the productive sector (B2B to the extent that it cannot be passed-through; personal property; municipal volume of business tax).

– Improve the use of technology to reduce compliance costs and improve control to increase efficiency, ensure compliance, improve control and acquirement.

– Review all incentives laws so that they support the establishment of direct and indirect jobs.

– Assess the effectiveness of the multiple incentive laws from the point of view of job creation and long-term capital investment.

– Standardize the of incentive laws and expand the scope of those that not only encourage foreign investment but will also stimulate the development of a local business ecosystem that supplement and serve these companies.

– Set reasonable job creation requirements, creating adjustment mechanisms to benefits in case of non-compliance.

VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT What How

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“Position Puerto Rico as a center of excellence, productivity and efficiency, optimizing and maximizing the traditional and emerging sectors with special focus on human development to reduce poverty increasing and strengthening the middle class and improving the quality of life."

Develop, optimize and maximize the Puerto Rican industry, with focus on import substitution, export within a global culture, and with emphasis on the community based economy as one of the pillars of the sustainable development of the island.

– Create a revitalization fund for the local industry.

– Promote investment through traditional pharmaceutical companies.

– Enforce Act 153, a law to adopt uniform standards of assessment, adjudication and review of acquisitions of products and services.

– Develop the plan of economic development of Puerto Rican capital, considering: the pillars of economic development of the Puerto Rico Manufacturer’s Association, the Council of Puerto Rican Industry Revitalization and the initiatives of the Alliance for Incubation of Community Micro-enterprises.

– Promote research, development and commercialization through public and private universities.

– Integrate and develop a research ecosystem and development between molecular sciences, comprehensive Cancer Center, the Science and Technology Trust, with a focus on the development of local manufacturing.

– Promote traditional and generic products pharmaceutical industries under threat of closure through private investment.

– Align Acts 20 and 22, as well as Act 185 (Law of Private Capital Funds) in the development of local industries of the 25 products of greater importation in PR.

– Local companies with global focus and the competitiveness required by the aerospace industry.

– Bring the local labor laws into the 21st. century, including, among others, changes to flexible hours of work ("Flexi-Time").

– Evaluate the effectiveness of Act 52 (law of incentives for the wage subsidies) and propose amendments as applicable.

VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CONT.)

What How

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Expedite permits for the development and operation of business, by centralizing processing at single management centers, which provide an answer in a minimum time and at a reasonable cost. Develop a program for the facilitation of acquisition of properties for new buyers and Puerto Ricans living stateside, this last is intended to reduce the inventory of properties for sale and increase the state income tax on real property.

– Uniform and simplify the multiple incentives laws to provide these benefits to small and medium-sized companies that do not have access to large law firms and expensive consultants.

– Promoting Puerto Rico as a strategic player of bridge and facilitator for cultural and economic development with Cuba. Supporting viable initiatives from the Private Sector Coalition.

– Issuance of instant permits for

businesses that do not require studies of environmental impact or health to the population, with a duration of six (6) months and whose permanence is subject to compliance with the requirements established by the office of permits corresponding to that particular business. If at the end of that term the business is not in compliance with the permit procedures, it would be cancelled and the business could not continue operating. Providing false information false or attempting to defraud the system would lead to severe fines and/or sanctions to the petitioner and/or professional involved.

– Coordinate with banks and other holders of mortgages:

o Negotiate discounts on sales prices.

o Availability of inventory. o Promotion in markets of

emigration. o Mortgage guarantees. o Promotion of a local secondary

market for mortgages. – Provide tax incentives for purchases:

o Discount on property taxes with time limits and other requirements on the purchase.

o Eliminate the purchase tax payable to the broker.

VIII. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CONT.) What How

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Take advantage as island strategically located in the Caribbean, to become a base for maintenance of fleets of aircraft, ships and as a center of operation of fleets and operations of scientific exploration. Convert the island in a Center of intermodal goods movement (air and sea) for the Caribbean, Central, and South America. Support the development of "call centers" and other high sensitivity operations for the Federal Government, which require to be operated by U.S. citizens. Such as: cyber security, homeland security and others.

- Evaluating, improving and replicating the aerospace model of Aguadilla.

- Returning to the model of development in Ceiba.

- Emphasizing the knowledge of English as an advantage in the maintenance of ships of American manufacturing and as a language of the aviation industry.

- Revitalizing the Ceiba aviation mechanics school.

- Integrating the operation of the ports and airports of San Juan, Ceiba, Ponce, Mayagüez, Arecibo, and Aguadilla in a single port system to be called the "Port of Puerto Rico".

- Working with the Federal Government to identify and negotiate, together with local companies, the establishment of operations where the advantages of English and citizenship are key.

- Identify specialized industries as those of health, aviation, banking and others, where the existing regulations require employees with American citizenship.

- Locate facilities in areas that are economically depressed, particularly in the center of the island.


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Support the development of "call centers" and other high sensitivity operations for the Federal Government, which require to be operated by U.S. citizens. Such as: cyber security, homeland security and others. Support and promote the film industry. Promote the development of research and development of patents for products to be industrialized in Puerto Rico.

- Provide groups of consultants and technical support to operate from Puerto Rico to the Caribbean and Latin America for the purpose of converting the island in the Center of technical assistance for Latin America.

– Support and encourage filmmakers of the local film industry. In addition, promote filmmakers to come to Puerto Rico from the US and other countries to shoot on our island. Thus, contracting companies and purchasing from the local commerce will be encouraged. All this will generate jobs, capital, and promotion of Puerto Rico as a favorable and varied destination for movie-making throughout the year.

− Establish a real link between the local universities, notably the University of PR, the Science and Technology Trust and local industries for the joint development of this intellectual property.

− Work hand in hand with the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices industries to identify these opportunities and make them available to both local and US investors interested on investing in PR.


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Promote the manufacture, installation, maintenance and administration of alternative sources of energy to institutional, commercial, and domestic markets. Convert Fomento into a public-private enterprise.

− Work hand in hand with local investors and those who already are benefiting from the tax incentives (Act 20 and 22) to promote the development of this type of industry.

− Promoting the establishment of operations in industrial facilities that are currently underutilized or vacant.

− By inserting the universities and technical colleges in the development of curricula for these industries:

o Help these institutions in the promotion of these courses and careers.

o Eliminate those artificial impediments that now exist for the interconnection of residential generation (solar, etc.). This adds generating capacity at low cost and with private investment.

− Using as a model the "Beacon Council-Florida/Foundation" of Florida:

o Review the positive attributes that is has and adapt them for local use.

− Helping to focus on organizations such as the PR Manufacturers’ Association in the attraction and promotion; the Chamber of Commerce as a promoter of the retail and services sector; and Fomento as the custodian of public policy, administration and development of industrial facilities.

− By multiplying the capacity of promotion by empowering professionals (lawyers, architects, engineers, CPA’s, etc.) to seek opportunities for economic development.


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Use the former base in Ceiba as the axis of the tourism and industrial development of the region, including the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra. Accelerate the immigrant/investor visa program in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security. Position to Puerto Rico as Center of excellence, productivity and efficiency optimizing and maximizing traditional and emerging sectors with special focus in human development, reducing poverty while increasing and strengthening the middle class and improving the quality of life.

− Finally implementing the Master Plan of Roosevelt Roads in full, according to the Department of Defense guidelines and encourage cruise ships in this area.

− Establishing areas of free trade in the inner cities of the municipality of Vieques and Culebra Islands to compete with the US Virgin Islands to help economic development and employment.

− Promoting among them, as among local investors and the "20 / 22" investors a climate of opportunities for investment.

− Aligning those efforts and the economic metrics with academic efforts both public and private, through the continuous provision of information and analysis to the universities.

− Provision of data in real time using cyber portals.

− Through annual summits where academia, private industry and the government congregate to exchange information that will help to align both academia and government to areas of importance for the country's economic and social growth.

− Promote different forms of collaborative economies ("sharing economy") that promote economic development through the direct exchange of goods and services.

IX. TOURISM What How

29

Recognize the economy of the visitor as a factor of utmost importance for the economic development of Puerto Rico and promote those elements that strengthen it. Tourism promotion efforts should be viewed as an integral part of the economic development of Puerto Rico.

– Leveraging the input of entities like the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association and Foundation for Puerto Rico to establish appropriate and measurable strategies for the development of the visitor economy.

– Promoting to PR locally through the awareness of the population of the importance of the economy of the visitor.

– Establishing and maintaining a uniform system of tourism statistics, allocating resources from the Institute of statistics.

– Developing the research and evaluation processes necessary to identify the most appropriate strategies for the development of tourism.

– Promoting PR throughout the world, not only in the US, leveraging technology, mostly through the use of social networks.

– Increasing the presence of PR in conventional media in the US markets, in a strictly measurable way.

– It should be addressed as a Public-Private Commission. Restore the phrase "La Isla el Encanto" or “Island of Enchantment” as the basis for a lasting brand that is endorsed by all sectors of the country so it doesn't fall victim to the partisan political ups and downs.

– Calling on the collaboration of all sectors of society in promoting this initiative.

– Managing the initiatives through re-education of employees on the brand.

IX. TOURISM (CONT.) What How

30

Tourism promotion efforts should be viewed as an integral part of the economic development of Puerto Rico. Promote the industry of culture to present Puerto Rico as a cultural, gastronomic, and eco-friendly destination. Promote the development of the former naval base in Ceiba as a top tier tourist destination.

– Encouraging the development/growth of enterprises of tourist services and integrating their promotion around the tourist routes.

– Leveraging educational centers throughout the island in this effort both al elementary, higher and university levels:

o Promoting the island worldwide.

o Used as a common focal point to give back to the people their pride in Puerto Rico.

– Developing gastronomic routes, ecotourism and rural tourism on multiple areas of the island.

– Integrating educational programs to prepare the human capital in areas of hospitality, tourist guides, gastronomy, security, management and other services to support the tourism destinations.

– Bringing the development of popular artistic curriculums in its execution.

– Developing cruise ship ports and regular and charter air routes.

– Integrating hotels and other accommodations.

– Providing access to the islands of Vieques and Culebra as tourist destinations with intermodal access (air-sea).

– By combining facilities with tourism, research, and agro-industry among others.


31

Position Vieques and Culebra as a regional competitor and relevant option in the Caribbean. Establish and redouble existing efforts focused in increasing the use of the inventory of hotel rooms and its eventual increase.

– Using a model similar to the British and US Virgin Islands.

– Integrating to the Island municipalities in the programs of tourism promotional.

– Working with the US Navy to achieve decontamination and cleaning of Vieques as soon as possible.

– Promoting among communities of Puerto Ricans in the US Inns, festivals, parties and other local events in Puerto Rico with the purpose of promoting visits to the island.

– Promoting medical tourism in the Caribbean and other international markets.

– Promoting Puerto Rico as an educational destination with high quality and low cost at the hemispheric level.

– Promoting activities throughout the year such as festivals of music and others in Puerto Rico.

– Coordinating with the Department of Transportation and Public Works, and the related municipalities, the proper identification and maintenance of routes of greater tourist use.

– Promoting cruises on other "Ports of Puerto Rico", such as Ponce, Mayaguez and Ceiba.

– Focusing on attracting the Puerto Rican diaspora to their island. Establishing clubs of former residents. Copying the model of Commerce and its seven wonders to bring the diaspora learn more about their roots.


32

Establish and redouble existing efforts focused in increasing the use of the inventory of hotel rooms and its eventual increase. Promote local studies for Hispanic students who come from outside of Puerto Rico.

– Promoting the diversity of attractions on the island such as: beaches, the history of the old areas, gastronomy, and metropolises.

– Endorsing and implementing the program of Campus Puerto Rico.

– Using funds from HD, among others, to develop student housing "Campus Villages" or "Clusters" of education on the vacant urban areas and deteriorated areas such as Sacred Heart in Santurce, Río Piedras, etc., aligned with the Urban Train stations.

X. INFRASTRUCTURE What How

33

Consolidate the functions of planning, development and management of infrastructure projects under the Authority for the Financing of Infrastructure (AFI). The purpose is to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency of public investments. Consolidate and optimize the services of public corporations. Concentration of investment in operation and maintenance of existing public works.

– Through a multidisciplinary team (architects, engineers, economists, planners, financial, administrators, environmentalists, etc.).

– Via a plan, design, finance, and development, through the private sector, its public corporations and all the works of the central Government.

– In coordination with the 8 administrative regions (see “Regionalization”).

– Integrating services of collection and maintenance of water, energy, solid waste within the Center of Utilities of Puerto Rico, promoting, among others, the cross training of employees of those agencies.

– Improving the condition of the roads through the use of recycled materials, such as used rubber from tires.

– Fixing and improving the lighting of public roads through the use of renewable energy technologies, such as: "Posterriqueño".

– implementing an intensive long-term (25-year) program to repair and replace all the water supply and sewage distribution network of the PR Aqueduct & Sewage Authority – PRASA (A.A.A.), and the transmission and distribution lines of PREPA (A.E.E.).

X. INFRASTRUCTURE (CONT.) What How

34

Concentration of investment in operation and maintenance of existing public works. Establish an energy public policy that is aligned with short, medium and long term socio-economic goals.

– With the development of new legal entities arising from the process of regionalization, ensure the conditions for responsible and sustainable funding for the creation and development of infrastructure in accordance with the needs of each one of them.

– Giving priority to the re-development and demolition of public eyesores, following the due processes of law.

– Old and outdated electricity generation plants will be removed:

o Allowing private investment

and facilitate generation and sale to consumers at lower cost.

o This also would lower the bills of the AAA (PRASA). A positive effect of substantial savings in electricity and water.

– Opening to public discussion all the alternatives of generation, transmission and distribution of energy and analyzing them from a scientific point of view, with real transparency and according to the goals of the country.

– Including in the discussions the academic, environmental, economic, industrial, commercial, and community groups.

– Ensuring that the resulting plan includes a generation of energy that is increasingly cleaner and sustainable in the long term.

X. INFRASTRUCTURE (CONT.) What How

35

Promote and implement, as public policy, a modern public transportation system, in optimal conditions, efficient, reliable, and environmentally clean, with various mode of transport such as ground and water-based, throughout the island, to facilitate the mobility and economic development.

– Creating cooperatives of employees of the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA) and sell the real estate to capitalize it and transferring it to these cooperative of employees.

– Supporting transportation alternatives in the island to compete in equal conditions and lower the number of requirements that the government requires from taxi drivers.

– Extending the Urban Train through private investment to extend service to Plaza Las Americas, to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, and Caguas.

– Promoting the extension of the Urban Train by light train to Old San Juan.

– Establishing new routes and services in conjunction with the community, private enterprise, and cooperatives to establish a network of public transport in optimal conditions with just and reasonable rates, modern, efficient, and reliable. Not only for Puerto Ricans, but also for tourists, enabling access to all towns on the island.

XI. EDUCATION What How

“Align the public The goal of the – Establishing an educational

36

education system to the needs of younger generations.”

educational system in Puerto Rico should be the development of the human capital in support of the long-term country plan (development economic, social and cultural), designed and executed as per the ten-year plan mandated by law.

philosophy that serves as the basis for the development of a new administrative model of public education in the country, promoting the humanistic and holistic development of the individual.

– Based on decisions making based on data on each participant in the process of teaching and learning.

– Which possesses clear metrics following models tested with evidence based on research.

– The structure of the educational system must be tempered to the educational mission:

o Flexible o Effective

– Reviewing the curriculum of K-12 with the purpose of developing skills in science, mathematics, computer, and technology.

– Parents will be active partners in the education of their children establishing development programs for them.

– Integrating them in school boards. – Connect broad-band Internet into

the educational centers, research facilities, museums, and other educational facilities providing access to the available infrastructure.

– Integrating the technologies of information and communications in all the process of teaching and learning.

– Emphasizing the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as bilingualism from preschool grades.

XI. EDUCATION (CONT.) What How

37

The goal of the educational system in Puerto Rico should be the development of the human capital in support of the long-term country plan (development economic, social and cultural), designed and executed as per the ten-year plan mandated by law. Align the public education system to the needs of the new generations.

– The special education for children diagnosed with disabilities will follow a comprehensive model, in strict compliance with the federal standards, which include therapies, academic services, parent training, and family support.

– Promoting the increase in the development of the Montessori system within the public teaching system.

– Provide in our schools, adult education, literacy, education in health, finance, technology and other areas during periods in which schools are idle.

– Emphasizing pre-school education (from Pre-Kinder) with the aim of increasing the academic and social success of our youth.

– Within the framework of the consolidation of agencies, the Departments of Sports and Recreation, and cultural development-related agencies will be consolidated within the Department of Education. In such a way, that the implementation of the educational philosophy is focused on the integral and humanistic development of the individual. Use sport and culture as elements fundamental to this development.

– Promote the implementation of multiple technical-vocational programs leading to certifications aligned to the development plan of the country with the Department of


38

Align the public education system to the needs of the new generations. Strengthen and expand the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses at primary and secondary levels to include computer sciences as a basic skill. 51% of all jobs related to STEM for 2018 will be related to computer science. Create an educational program where students can graduate with an associate degree in a career related to STEM at graduating from high school.

Education. In such a way, that the implementation of the educational philosophy focused in the integral and humanistic development of the individual uses sports, physical education and culture as its fundamental elements.

– A five-year program to be built with a defined strategy to implement on primary and secondary levels in a stepped fashion. This will allow access to more than $4 billion dollars earmarked by the Federal Government for this purpose.

– Teachers will be trained and strategic alliances developed with the private sector and third sector organizations involve our students.

– The creation of a curriculum of excellence in this area is essential to support our vision of economic development. Curriculum will be modified to ensure the courses of computer science for the graduation of students.

– Based in the P-TECH school of New York, where students will graduate with an associate degree in applied science, computer science or engineering.

– The integration of universities and the commitment from private companies will help in the form of established curriculum and the real opportunities of employment.

– This will allow a focus on graduating students with immediate, well paid employment opportunities, thus breaking the cycle of unemployment and underemployment due to lack of technical skills.

XI. EDUCATION (CONT.)

What How

39

Create an educational program where students can graduate with an associate degree in a career related to STEM at graduating from high school. The University of Puerto Rico should be the main source for the formation of human capital that we need for the economic and social development of our country. It must reorganize itself as a truly autonomous institution, which, by adopting economic, social, political and cultural development of the island as a goal of its curricular efforts and research, will be transformed to reduce their dependence on the government, have more institutional stability and regain its position of excellence in all areas of knowledge.

– As part of the school curriculum, this program will be offered free of charge for students who are committed to it.

– Adopting the model of the autonomous universities autonomous of first category from the rest of the world, while resorting to academic tools to generate more income. This means to achieve financial self-sufficiency of 50% by:

o The adoption of a system of

trimesters and quarters. o The aggressive development

of institutional proposals for external funding and institutionalization of research partnerships with the productive and business sector, both local and as investment in Puerto Rico.

o The real development of an efficient system of scientific patents linked to the economic and environmental development of the island.

o The implementation of an administrative reorganization which eliminates duplication of programs and bureaucratic obstacles and enhances the services available for students and access to facilities, both for Latin American students and our brothers in the diaspora.


40

The University of Puerto Rico should be the main source for the formation of human capital that we need for the economic and social development of our country. It must reorganize itself as a truly autonomous institution, which, by adopting economic, social, political and cultural development of the island as a goal of its curricular efforts and research, will be transformed to reduce their dependence on the government, have more institutional stability and regain its position of excellence in all areas of knowledge.

o Establishment of night courses at the University supported by new technologies to respond to the demands of the contemporary workplace, and the intensive use of its excellent physical facilities.

o The implantation of a variable formula for the cost of tuition, based on family income, which makes it more just to those who can pay more as well as those talented students from low-income that lack the resources to finance a university degree.

o Forbearance of student loans to those professionals who pledge themselves to serve Puerto Rico for five (5) years after graduation from the University.

– Establishing and maintaining a system

of constant evaluation that serves to ensure that the University is socially responsible with the needs of our citizens in all sectors of society.

– Implement ways to strengthen the finances of the University through the capitalization of mechanisms such as patents.

– Assessing the formula for funding of the University system of the island.

– Redefining the role or the part that the University will be playing in the education system of the country.

– Aligning the secondary and post-secondary education plan of Puerto Rico so that it responds to the development plan of the country.


41

Educational Philosophy.

− First, when we talk about educational reform we have to start by establishing "educational philosophy in which that educational reform will be framed":

o A comprehensive and coherent

educational philosophy that contains specific goals to answer questions such as: What is the purpose of the educational system? What are our goals of the education system? What is the profile or what type of graduate we want? What is the development and profile of citizen that we want for the future?

o Without an educational philosophy anchored in social capital formation, citizenship training, and personal and community responsibility, our education system will remain vulnerable and prisoner of political event swings, as has been the case to this day.

o The first executive order of the incoming Administration will be convening the necessary sectors so that in the first 100 days they will deliberate horizontally and produce this philosophy that will serve as the basis of our educational system development.

o Among those sectors which should be represented are teachers, universities, business, professional guilds, merchants, parent’s groups and other professional groups.


42

Educational Philosophy. Administrative Reform.

o Professionals in education will be responsible to review and make recommendations related to a curriculum necessary to temper the educational philosophy and needs of the country.

o In addition, curriculum shall contain, transversely from the elementary school to the University, topics in introductory classes of democratic theory, participation and citizen coexistence, economy and management, environmental ethics, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and educational technologies that follow the trends of the new “Knowledge Society”.

o The purpose of the Department of Education will be aligned to this educational philosophy based on the development of an individual, which, considering demographic changes, will pay equal attention to the education of the child, youth, adult and older citizens.

− The proposal for regionalization of

services previously presented, includes an element of decentralization of certain services that can be performed more efficiently and more effectively in those eight administrative regions.

− There are areas that do not require a control at the central level as would be the implementation of educational public policy aspects, which may be better served by regional teams that these regions will have. These tasks could be performed at less cost than required at the central level, therefore savings will be realized.


43

Administrative Reform.

− As a result of this decentralization, the so long-awaited but often frustrated goal of a school which responds to the community and to the school boards, will be a reality.

− By decentralizing the Department of Education and passing along the competencies to the administrative regions, the following can be achieved:

o Professional development. o Maintenance of school

facilities. o School supply of materials

and educational tools. o Administration of school

cafeterias. o School transportation

including students with learning disabilities.

o Selection of learning materials.

− The goal of an advanced educational system must be the integral development of the individual.

− In that regard, the arts, sports and culture are elements essential to that integral development of our future generations.

− Within the concept of regionalization, decentralization and consolidation of agencies with a view to produce operational savings:

o Consolidate in the Department of Education, the Department of Recreation and Sports and all those instrumentalities for the development and preservation of the Puerto Rican culture, as for example, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, as well as other affiliated cultural entities.


44

Administrative Reform. Invert The Budget Formula

− The best means to make sports and cultural activities massively appealing is the school since there is one in almost all communities in the island.

− In this way, policies and strategies in these three areas must be intertwined to achieve the goal of the comprehensive development of the individual.

− Functions of recreation and sports that can be transferred to the regions shall be transferred.

− One of the main problems of the Department of Education is its politicization. The Department of Education has been the spoils of political parties, with a budget of almost $3 billion. That is the budget of some Latin American countries.

− Contrary to the recommendations of the UNESCO for the 21st. century project, 65% of that budget goes to administrative expenses, contracts for professional services, contracts to outside corporations that have become a focus of corruption, political investment and poor services, especially for special education students.

− Only 35% percent of that budget goes to pay salaries of teachers, which, together with the students, are the two main components of any system of education.


45

Invert The Budget Formula. Depoliticizing the System.

− The formula will be reversed so that 65% of the budget is earmarked for the payment of salaries of teachers and the educational teams for the classroom and 35% to the payment of operational and administrative costs together with professional services contracts.

− That along with the aforementioned cuts, product of the administrative restructuring, we can raise the salaries of teachers to 75% of the average in the United States, representing an average increase of 50%.

− In addition, as a result of the process of evaluation of the productivity of the teachers, using an instrument developed by the same teachers, establish a system that will provide productivity bonuses based on the results of the teachers.

− Partisan politicization is one of the main problems of the Department of Education; it brings as consequences:

o Shifting priorities because it is

more important for parties to divide up the spoils of almost $3 billion than to invest in the real needs of the system.

o In the '80s eight education regions allegedly to decentralize the education system and what ended was an enclave of political party cronies which perpetuated the practice of hiring friends and sympathizers of the party.


46

Depoliticizing the System.

o These administrative duties of supervision of education management can be done with technological investment that creates instant and interactive databases on day to day operations. And those eight regions and superintendence’s staff will be redeployed to support teaching operations.

o Eliminate the regions of the Department of Education and the Superintendents. Saving and cutting administrative fat by transferring as much as possible, the administrative functions to the 8 municipal administrative regions.

o Encourage the members of the Cabinet, school boards and University administration to enroll their children in public schools.

– After establishing the educational philosophy and the redesign of the curriculum, the ten-year education plan, as required by the organic law of the Department of Education, should be put in place.

– This plan may not be altered by the electoral swings.

– The supervision and control of the same will be to charge of same sectors that designed the educational philosophy.

− Establishment of metrics for periods of time of at least 12 years and on an ongoing basis for teachers, with a model agreed with the magisterial class and the faculties of education in all universities in the country that is interactive and formative and that measures both processes and results.


47

Integration and reform of universities.

– All the universities, especially the University of Puerto Rico, must be integrated with the educational system of the island and they should have a high degree of social responsibility on its efficacy.

– The universities, both public and private, should make curricular reforms to provide to teachers in the education system the knowledge and skills necessary to redirect the education of the country.

– In addition, they should play a leading role in the professional development of teachers and, as consultants, in their evaluation processes.

– It is not possible to conceive the economic development of any country without the help of the University which will be primarily responsible for generating the human capital required in economic development:

o The University should have Puerto Rico and its economic, social and political needs as a goal of their training processes and research.

o The University has to be accessible to all; to those who can pay and who will pay according to their income and who cannot.

o The University has to be autonomous in its decisions and criteria of evaluation but, at the same time, be responsive to the processes of educational reform, depolitization of public administration and the economic development of the country.

XII. HEALTH

What How

48

“A healthy and educated country.”

Develop an integrated healthcare model which includes physical, oral and mental health, and which serves the citizen from birth until old age, with education, prevention, metrics and optimization as a common goal.

− Developing a basic healthcare cover for all Puerto Rico.

− Reorganizing the system to one of a single payer.

− By adopting the federal standards of quality of the 330 Centers.

− Promoting an integrated model of health care, based on the needs of the patient; directed to strengthen the patient-doctor relationship, replacing episodes of sporadic care for coordinated care, with quality and accessible, similar to PCMH (Patient-Centered Medical Home) certified centers.

− Setting the system’s administrative expenses at a cap of 3%.

− Giving continuity and support to the Universal Health Administrative Board, as proposed by the People’s Alliance of Health, converted into law recently:

o Without prejudice to the powers of the Secretary of Health.

o The design and operation will be standardized and adequate.

o With representation from all concerned parties.

− The basic healthcare cover can be enhanced by buying additional coverage from a private insurer:

o Similar to the system now used in Massachusetts, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and Great Britain.

XII. HEALTH (CONT.) What How

49

Develop an integrated healthcare model which includes physical, oral and mental health, and which serves the citizen from birth until old age, with education, prevention, metrics and optimization as a common goal.

Restructure the Department of Health with the goal of consolidating redundant administrative functions.

− Limiting the role of insurance providers to cover addition coverage.

− Payment according to the services rendered and the complexity of the service provided.

− Promoting an integrated network of electronic medical records, leveraging existing federal statutes:

o Avoiding duplication of

services and procedures. o Unique medical record

"Puerto Rico Information Exchange".

o Optimizing the use of economic resources.

− In conjunction with public and private educational systems at all levels, by strengthening health education:

o Physical, oral and mental. o Good eating habits. o Prevention. o Exercise.

− Integrating medical services provided by other agencies (CFSE, ACAA, etc.).

− Incorporating into the health program of the government, to the extent that is viable, the principles developed by the Multi-Sectorial Council of Health for Puerto Rico.

− Aligning the regions of health to the plan of municipal regionalization.

− Consolidating the functions of finance, human resources, and technology in a centralized operation.

− Reinforcing the billing systems and collection of services to the private plans.

XII. HEALTH (CONT.) What How

50

Restructure the medical education system in coordination with the University of Puerto Rico and other universities that offer degrees in the health sciences. Promote the mechanisms and measures necessary to prevent the exodus of medical and health professionals.

− Developing a Plan of Service to Puerto Rico, where all the health professionals whose education is provided in the public system or public facilities, be bound to serve for a period of time in Puerto Rico:

o With competitive salaries. o Periods of service relative to

the time used and to the specialty.

o Restore the residency programs in teaching hospitals for the various medical specialties.

− Promote the establishment of a "cap" or maximum for claims by medical malpractice.

− Negotiating collectively the best rates of medical malpractice insurance, and if necessary, subsidize part of the cost to create a more attractive environment to stay and work in Puerto Rico.

XIII. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT What How

51

Reorient the approach of the Puerto Rican society towards a better balance and coexistence between the different socio-economic groups of the country. Protect and assert human rights. Establish social solidarity as a part of the DNA of the Puerto Rican society. Charting a new path to improve our quality of life.

− Encouraging education in tolerance of diversity within the education system.

− Promoting the values of tolerance and acceptance within the spheres of influence of the government. Also within non-profit organizations in the way of a covenant or social pact.

− Promoting and respecting equality and the human and constitutional rights of all human beings.

− Avoiding any kind of discrimination in areas such as housing, development of enterprises, community self-management, health and education, among others.

− Establishing public policy against gender-based violence.

− Promoting values of solidarity among all Puerto Ricans and among communities of other nationalities.

− Incorporating all sectors of society, including the business sector, in the promotion of human development.

− Recognizing social and economic inequality as one of the factors that affects our development as a country.

− Working with public and community sectors to promote a true quality of education that releases our people from the shackles of discrimination and marginalization.

XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY What How

52

“Return the streets to our law-abiding citizens.”

Transform Puerto Rico into a country of law and order. Also, return the streets to our law-abiding citizens. Transform the Puerto Rico Police Department in an organization directed to the prevention of crime and compliance with laws.

− Reduce conditions of risk in urban environments, through the incorporation of community councils, where prevention is the main focus of the efforts.

− Leveraging the regionalization model (see “Regionalization”) in the organization and operation of the PR Police Department, to empower communities in their initiatives of prevention and safety.

− Expanding the implementation of an effective system of cameras to prevent criminal acts.

− Improving the maintenance and the appearance of the equipment used by police.

− Establishing, through the use of social networks, public awareness campaigns for:

o Compliance with laws and

regulations. o Transit regulations. o Ethics and coexistence. o Citizenship.

− Continuing efforts to comply with the conditions of the Federal Monitor.

− Reorganizing the police regions in alignment with the municipal regions so that the coordination and operation is more effective.

− Reinforcing the curriculum of the Police Academy and continuing education for active service police.

− Providing more training to police officers on issues of:

o Risk management in violent

cases of abused children, o Family, o Gender, o Mental health, o and animals.

XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY (CONT.) What How

53

Transform the Puerto Rico Police Department in an organization directed to the prevention of crime and compliance with laws. Address with concrete actions outlined in the law 154, the abuse and negligence of our animals. Enforce all laws and existing regulations regarding the use of public roads.

− Developing a real preventive plan and using all means of communication, written, radial and television for carry, in a continuous way, different educational campaigns (see point above).

− Improving salaries. − Upgrading equipment as needed. − Training the police force in line with

a law-abiding country that we aspire to be.

− Educating police officers on the details of Act 154 and demanding that they enforce it.

− Raising awareness within the citizenry on this Act and ask them to report any violation.

− Frontally attacking and bringing to justice those organizations dedicated to dog fights.

− Training the police force continuously about the details of the laws and regulations and demanding their enforcement. For example:

o Use of seat belts. o Talking over the cell phone

when driving. o Stopping behind traffic lines

at intersections. o Proper use of directional,

emergency and headlights. o Use of road shoulder only for

emergency stops. o Respect for Stop signs and

traffic lights. − Requiring the police that they also

respect all traffic laws. − Making aggressive trash pickup

and debris from state roads, and requiring municipal regions to do the same.

XIV. PUBLIC SAFETY (CONT.) What How

54

Enforce all laws and existing regulations regarding the use of public roads Improve significantly the condition of roads. Humanization of the correction and rehabilitation system.

− Ensuring compliance with the laws through the use of cameras to catch violations of traffic and other laws.

− Working together with the Department of Transportation (DTOP), the Roads and Transportation Authority and the municipal regions, identify those roads that pose a greater risk to the safety of its users due to their deterioration and give them higher priority for their repair.

− Dispatch inspectors who report on conditions and tracking their repairs.

− Using social networks as a method of identification of dangerous roads and those in need of repair.

− Modernize and redesign the prison system.

− Creating real possibilities for rehabilitation and social reintegration of the confined, reducing probability of recidivism.

− Reinforcing the opportunities of education and development of practical skills within the prison system.

XV. AGRICULTURE What How

55

Puerto Rico as agro-industrial center of the region, reducing imports, creating jobs and increasing exports. Reorganize the Department of Agriculture in such a way that it responds more effectively to the needs of farmers and consumers.

− Maximizing the food technology laboratory of the UPR’s Mayaguez campus (RUM), transforming it into a research center for research and development of agro-industrial products with an emphasis on genetically unmodified products (NONGMO).

− Promoting the investment of the Act 20 and Act 22 in the marketing and development of agro-industrial products in Puerto Rico.

− Encouraging value-based agriculture focused on a value-added strategy.

− Reopening the chicken (Picú & Canto Alegre) processing plants to expand production, focusing production in meat and poultry products with added value.

− Promoting the cooperative movement in the development of agro-industries.

− Optimizing the local expertise with federal legislation (USDA & FDA).

− Reutilizing available buildings of foreign operations into centers of manufacture of agro-industrial products.

− Optimizing the ports of Ponce, Mayagüez, and Ceiba (Port of Puerto Rico) for the import of agricultural and export of processed agro-industrial finished products back to the country of origin and to the markets in the States.

− Organizing the Department by type

of crop and geographical region, creating a matrix structure where is tends the needs of each type of harvest and each region: o Divide the island in eight

regions, which would correspond to the municipal regions, so that the specific needs of each region is tended to and coordinated.

XV. AGRICULTURE (CONT.) What How

56

Reorganize the Department of Agriculture so it responds more effectively to the needs of farmers and the consumers.

− At the same time, assigning harvest managers or directors that are in charge of everything related to each category (examples: coffee, milk, vegetables, fruits, starchy, livestock, etc.)

− Reassess all incentives, subsidies, insurance and machinery programs and the management of federal funds, with the purpose of simplifying processes and optimizing their effectiveness:

o Integrating offices that are

now redundant. o Eliminating those that are

not relevant.

− Integrating the efforts of the Department of Agriculture, the Land Authority and Planning Board to identify and promote the use of available agricultural lands. Again, in coordination with the municipal regions.

XVI. ENVIRONMENT What How

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Promote and implement sustainable development public policy at all levels and in all efforts of government. As part of the redevelopment of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, use the contaminated areas to establish solar and wind farms for use inside the area.

− This will be one of the criteria of evaluation of all governmental management. If a project or initiative does not meet that criterion, it will be not approved.

− To promote the prevention and control of luminesce pollution to protect the natural dark environment and bioluminescence.

− Promoting and implementing effective programs for the recycling of waste products and to promote the manufacture and use of products derived from such environmental activity.

− Leveraging the resources of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its compliance requirements to promote the development of industries and business: o “Sustainable Practices Science” o “Clean Water Act” (1972) o “Clean Air Act” (1963) o Local Laws

− Depoliticizing development planning and land use. Educating government institutions as well as civil society, including the educational system, in order to establish a balanced and environmentally friendly development, where recycling is a priority for the country.

− Establishing a project, in conjunction with the community, for photovoltaic and wind energy capture: o Evaluating the viability of this

production and transmission to nearby residential areas.

o Coordinating with the Federal Government to use funds of the "Green Energy Fund".

o Make transfer of excess power to PREPA (AEE).

XVII. TECNOLOGY

What How

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It will be a priority to improve and expand information systems and communication technologies and services supporting government agencies and therefore its citizens.

− Establishing the position of Chief Information Officer or CIO of the government as a member of the Cabinet.

o Reviewing and amending the draft law submitted to this effect in 2013.

o This position should be empowered with the tools and the authority needed to establish public policy as it relates to best practices and standards of computing.

− One of the priorities of the CIO should be to promote the professionalization of disciplines associated with the use of technology: o The establishment of a uniform

structure of positions and jobs for professional workers of TI, in coordination with the Personnel Office of the Central Government.

o This must include the academic and professional requirements for each position and level. This is a usual practice in the private sector.

o Promoting the training of government employees. From the CIO, through the entire chain down to the service technicians, in such a way that they have the capacity similar to employees of private companies. This, using the leverage of accrediting institutions such as IEEE, CompTIA, ISACA, ISSA, and others.

o Establishing best practice governance, TI and services project management, commonly used in the private industries, such as ITIL, ISO/IEC and PMI.

XVII. TECNOLOGY (CONT.) What How

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It will be a priority to improve and expand information systems and communication technologies and services supporting Government agencies and therefore its citizens. Exchange and integration of information between agencies and within these.

o By promulgating standards of computing according to organizations such as ISO/IEC, ISSA and ISACA. Here it is not only expected that issues essential to the safety of the assets are addressed, but also matters of compliance, so important when you're working with large amounts of data as the Government does.

o Implementing uniform practices in the contracting of external IT services and the purchase of products, in such a way that these processes are agile and transparent. Here, both the ethical preparation of personnel and technical training are key processes.

− To promote the interaction between the local government, the "US Digital Service" and the Science and Technology Trust for the development of systems and programming initiatives in the form of startups.

− The CIO must undertake concrete initiatives in this direction. Some examples of areas for improvement, to name just a few:

o Police Reports (“Querellas”). o Certificates of Insurance

from the Workers’ Compensation Fund Corporation (CFSE).

o Internal Revenue Stamps and Vouchers (“Sellos y Comprobantes de Rentas Internas”) from the PR Department of the Treasury (“Departamento de Hacienda”).

XVIII. STATUS What How

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The decolonization of Puerto Rico is an important issue of human rights that must be addressed with urgency. “The current political condition cannot be an alternative, in view of the decision of the US Supreme Court in People v. Sánchez Valle, the opinion of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Congress in the legislative process of the PROMESA Act.”

− Moderating and enabling the process of resolution of the colonial status of Puerto Rico without political strings attached and without favoritism to a particular formula:

o Serious. o Responsible. o Just. o Inclusive.

− Pushing for a binding plebiscite from the Federal Congress, with decolonizing formulas acceptable to the Federal Justice Department.

− The development of projects that define these formulas, together with a sustained economic plan which will be presented before the Federal Government 30 days after the beginning of the new Administration, will be left in the hands of the organizations that support the different formulas of status.

− In a period of six (6) months after the formulas are presented, require from the United States respect of the affirmation of the sovereignty of Puerto Rico, whether for formally joining the Federation or to establish its integration into the rest of the international community with its own legal identity.

− The scenario of federal legislative provision for a binding process of self-determination, will present the relevant legislation under the federal law adopted for that purpose to carry out the plebiscite.

− Administrative support will be provided so that the binding status query is carried out on or before November 15, 2017.

− The results of the query will be disseminated in the appropriate forums, both in the US and the international community.

XVIII. STATUS (CONT.) What How

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The problem of the status of Puerto Rico has been for so many years in essence due to three issues: the internal factionalism, indifference on the part of the authorities, and the political forces and real ignorance of the rest of the world of the magnitude of the problem.

− Implementing the transition plan towards the status chosen by the people in coordination with the Federal Government.

− If the Federal Government ignored the claim of the people to self-determination, before or after consultation by status:

o A commission will be created

that will be constituted and will remain active while the decision endorsed by the people is not addressed by the Federal Government. This Commission will have representatives who will work with the three branches of government to make clear the position of PR and, if necessary, to denounce the situation of PR at the national level.

o Will create a "Task Force" by the State Department of PR to denounce internationally that the US is violating its obligation to the international community freely assumed before the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of promoting and respecting the right to self-determination of our people, as well as the commitment made by US included in the ninth paragraph of resolution 748 (VII) of 1953 with respect to the wishes of change of the relationship between the two countires.

− At the same time that the process for determining the political status of PR and in the transition to the formula that the people choose is completed, the government will continue its efforts to put PR on its feet again.

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Independent Candidate for Governorship of Puerto Rico

2016

http://www.manuelcidre.com/

Call us at: (787) 705-2016; or (787) 665-2016

Central Committee: 1301 Jesús T. Piñero Avenue, corner of De Diego Avenue, Puerto Nuevo, San Juan, PR 00920

© Manuel Cidre Governor 2016

Government & Nonprofit

Manuel Cidre Issues Proposal