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Governor, Frente por Puerto Rico off to US capital

By on October 31, 2017

SAN JUAN – La Fortaleza’s secretary of Public Affairs, Ramón Rosario, said Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares was departing Tuesday to the U.S. capital, along with several members of Frente por Puerto Rico (Front for for P.R.), which includes representation from all political, economic, religious and social sectors of the island.

“This effort at the capital with Frente por Puerto Rico is to continue requesting with one voice that Congress and the White House provide the aid that Puerto Rico needs. This trip’s agenda will focus on additional aid to address the crisis with the Recovery Plan and to ensure the federal tax reform treats Puerto Rico fairly and makes our jurisdiction competitive to retain and create jobs,” Rosario said in a press release.

(Felipe Torres/CB)

In addition, he announced a partnership with Liberty Cablevision to provide internet service for requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), health services and other areas, which continued Tuesday in the municipality of Florida and Wednesday in Arecibo.

For its part, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority (Prasa) reported 82%, or 1,053,362 of its customers, have water service. These numbers represent 14,922 additional customers with service compared with Monday.

However, certain sectors of Arecibo, Barceloneta, Corozal, Lares, Utuado and Salinas saw service reductions due to power generator failures, which Prasa is working to repair.

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“This number of customers with water service will increase as the power generators are installed at Prasa’s pumps. At present, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has installed 195 generators, of the 547 that Prasa requested,” the Public Affairs secretary said.

Meanwhile, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) reported restoration of 33.4% of its service, with partial connections in Aguada, Aguadilla, Camuy, Guaynabo, Hatillo, Isabela, Juana Díaz , Manatí, Moca, Naranjito, Peñuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincón, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta and Utuado.

Rosario said “the 30% goal by Oct. 30 was fulfilled, but we still have a lot to do. The next goal is 50% of generation by Nov. 15, and for this we have the assistance of our employees at Prepa and the crews to arrive from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

Meanwhile, he said that on Monday the staff of the hospital ship USNS Comfort treated 118 patients at the San Juan pier. In addition, it was reported that 1,043 of 1,045 pharmacies—99% of the total registered with the Health Services Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym)—are operational and dispensing medications.

In telecommunications, service was said to be 70% restored, with 1,143 antennas of the 1,619 operational, which was 34 more than on Monday. The Telecommunications Regulatory Board and Family Department are testing satellite technology for businesses participating in the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN by its Spanish acronym), benefiting 1.3 million local participants.

As for the roads, the Transportation & Public Works Department reopened Virgencita Bridge between Toa Baja and Dorado.

There are now just 75 shelters in operation, with 3,304 evacuees, or 44 fewer than on Monday. Since the passage of the hurricane, About 140 shelters have been closed after relocating families and establishing a plan to consolidate shelters.

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