Pierluisi declares a state of fiscal emergency as part of his first six executive orders

governor Pedro Pierluisi signed six executive orders today, Saturday, among which stands out a mandate to the appointed secretary of Department of Health, Carlos Mellado, to design a strategy for the massive administration of tests COVID-19.

With Executive Order (OE) 2021-01also make sure Mellado created a group of experts to execute that vaccine application strategy. The document states that Mellado will have to report to Pierluisi “at any time”. about the progress of the delegated act.

“It is necessary for the government to make greater efforts to test and identify contagions, for which the Department of Health, with the advice of epidemiologists, is ordered to conduct massive testing campaigns and educational campaigns to identify cases of contagion, Pierluisi said in a document .

While, OE 2021-03 orders the application of fiscal responsibility and expenditure control measures and includes the repeal of OE 2017-001, although the said document maintains the reduction already applied in 2017 of 20% of the positions of trust and the reduction by 10% of the value of the contracts.

The new document includes language aimed at limiting travel abroad paid for with public funds, which can only be done if they are considered essential or have been authorized by the secretary or head of the agency or by the Ministry of Interior.

In the meantime, OE-2021-03 declares a state of fiscal emergency and orders all government agencies to take measures to control expenditures. For example, it provides that all career vacancies, temporary and irregular on this date or after the signing of the order will be subject to a necessity assessment.

“No agency may fill those vacancies by any method (appointment, promotion, promotion, mobility, transfer, etc.) unless it understands that it is necessary to provide services to people and must have the prior authorization of the Director. Office of Management and Budget (OGP) ”, reads the document.

The same prohibition, with the same authorization condition from the head of the OGP, will apply to the creation of new jobs or to the appointment of temporary positions.

The head of the OGP will also have to authorize any service contract worth more than $ 10,000.

The document details the so-called critical positions that protect the health, safety and well-being of citizens. For example, teachers, police and health professionals. Agencies are also required to submit all their leases within 30 days.

In the case of public corporations, they must also maintain a 20% reduction in the positions of trust applied in 2017.

Another executive order has been signed to appoint Carmen Salgado Rodríguez as administrator of the governor’s office and another executive order establishes the structure of the governor’s office.

Pierluisi also signed an executive order ordering the Justice and Public Security departments to establish collaboration agreements with federal agencies to tackle corruption.

“Corruption in the public service is one of the main social evils that tears people’s trust in their institutions. This administration has an unavoidable commitment to strengthening law and order and that they have strong and appropriate tools to eradicate corruption, white-collar crime and crime in general. A frontal war against corruption and crime is declared, the Department of Public Security and the Secretary of Justice are ordered to begin immediate and coordinated talks with the federal prosecutor for the district of Puerto Rico to establish, amend or improve any collaboration agreement for the criminal prosecution of corruption offenses. or white collar “, the governor underlined.

The latest executive order prohibits the posting of your photo to government agencies.