Esta ley enmienda la "Preference Procurement Policy Act of the Government of Puerto Rico" para aumentar el porcentaje de preferencia en las compras gubernamentales de artículos producidos, ensamblados o empacados en los municipios de Vieques y Culebra. El objetivo es fomentar el desarrollo económico y la creación de empleo en estas áreas, otorgando mayores porcentajes de preferencia (hasta 9% para empacados, 12% para ensamblados y 30% para producidos/manufacturados) para equipararlos con los costos de producción y transporte de la "Isla Grande".
(Approved January 2, 2003)
To add a paragraph to Section 7 of Act No. 42 of August 5, 1989, as amended, the "Preference Procurement Policy Act of the Government of Puerto Rico", in order to increase the preference percentage assigned to articles produced, assembled or packaged in the Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra.
It is generally known that unemployment is a serious problem in the Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra, and that at present, there are no employment opportunities for our sisters and brothers of these municipalities, which are an integral part of Puerto Rico. But, for many years, their economic development has not been achieved at a par with that of the "Isla Grande". Therefore, the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is committed to guarantee the economic and social development of both municipalities, with an aggressive program that will see to their many needs.
With this measure, we seek to promote the establishing of enterprises in these municipalities, granting them a greater percentage of preference in the purchases, of articles produced, assembled, or packaged in both municipalities.
Thus, they are placed in equal conditions with their competitors on the "Isla Grande", that have lower production and transportation costs.
Section 1. - A paragraph is hereby added to Section 7 of Act No. 42 of August 5, 1989, as amended, the "Preference Procurement Policy Act of the Government of Puerto Rico ", in order to increase the preference percentage assigned to articles produced, assembled oar packaged in the Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra.
Section 2. - A last paragraph is added to Section 7 of Act No. 42 of August 5, 1989, as amended, to read as follows: "Section 7. - Notwithstanding the maximum limits established in paragraphs (1) and (4) above, in the case of articles produced, assembled or manufactured in the Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra, the following maximum limits shall be assigned:
(a) in the case of articles packaged in Vieques and Culebra, up to nine (9) percent;
(b) in the case of articles assembled in Vieques or Culebra, up to twelve (12) percent;
(c) in the case of articles produced or manufactured in Vieques or Culebra, up to thirty (30) percent."
Section 3. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 31 (S.B. 1350) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to add a paragraph to Section 7 of Act No. 42 of August 5, 1989, as amended, the "Preference Procurement Policy Act of the Government of Puerto Rico", in order to increase the preference percentage assigned to articles produced, assembled or packaged in the Municipalities of Vieques and Culebra, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $8^{ ext {th }}$ of January of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director