$28M approved for Puerto Rico’s flood recovery, towns
Puerto Rico’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced Thursday new funding approvals for Puerto Rico’s municipal recovery efforts after floods earlier this year.
OMB Director Orlando Rivera-Berríos said the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico has authorized a reallocation of funds that will allow the government to redirect $28 million toward infrastructure repairs and restoring services in towns heavily affected by storms between April and May.
Rivera-Berríos said the money will be used to repair damaged roads, restore utilities and support essential public services, especially in vulnerable communities.
“This decision represents not only financial flexibility but also a commitment to our people,” he said. “Since we arrived at OMB, we have worked tirelessly to serve municipalities and ensure that emergency funds are used effectively and for the direct benefit of flood-affected communities. Our priority is that every dollar allocated reaches where it is most needed, with the due controls and transparency that has characterized us.”
An additional $1.8 million has been set aside but will not be released until municipalities meet reporting requirements. The oversight board has requested detailed accounting from towns on how they used $100,000 previously distributed from the Emergency Reserve Fund.
The board will decide whether to release the remaining funds after evaluating those reports. Rivera-Berríos said OMB supports the board’s stricter controls to ensure funds are used responsibly and that any unspent money is returned.
Beyond immediate disaster relief, Rivera-Berríos confirmed the approval of Joint Resolution 11 of 2025, which allocates $15 million from general fund surpluses for longer-term infrastructure projects, economic development and permanent improvements across 22 municipalities.
The measure, passed June 23, amended Puerto Rico’s general budget for fiscal year 2025, increasing municipal funding to cover operating expenses and maintain essential services.
Projects vary by town. Camuy will use its allocation to build a new municipal center, while Canóvanas will fund a sports school and culinary arts salon at its School of Fine Arts. Cataño and Cidra will direct resources toward community works and infrastructure upgrades. Fajardo is planning a dam to improve irrigation canals.
Juncos will rehabilitate the Estancia Serena Center and make improvements to the Rafael G. Amalbert Coliseum. Road repaving is scheduled in Luquillo and Loíza, while Trujillo Alto and Vega Alta will focus on community-based projects. In Yauco, upgrades are planned for the Naranjo and Ranchera neighborhoods.
Rivera-Berríos said every project must undergo board review before funds are released. Municipalities were required to submit detailed proposals by Aug. 22. As of this week, 20 municipalities had complied.
OMB has already submitted 14 projects to the board for review, expects to send three more shortly and continues to evaluate three others. Two municipalities have yet to provide the required documentation.
The OMB director said the process reflects coordination among municipal governments, the central administration and the board, despite what he acknowledged are difficult bureaucratic requirements. He said the government is trying to balance speed in addressing urgent community needs with the accountability measures imposed by the board.
“With this distribution, we give continuity to the commitment of Gov. Jenniffer González to strengthen the municipal finances, infrastructure and economic development of Puerto Rico,” Rivera-Berríos said.
