Puerto Rico News Digest For June 13, 2016

CDC DIRECTOR VISITS PR OVER ZIKA

From US News & World Report:

"The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in Puerto
Rico to discuss the U.S. territory's response to an outbreak of the Zika virus. Tom
Frieden met with Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla behind closed doors Friday. It is
his second visit to the island in recent months. Puerto Rico is reporting 149 new
cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the past week. The island has more than
1,500 cases, including 182 in pregnant women. A total of 40 people have been
hospitalized..."

MST CALLS FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

From Caribbean Business:

"The Socialist Workers Movement (MST by its Spanish initials), the Work-
ing People’s Party Youth, the National Hostos Independence Movement and
other individuals on Monday were calling for civil disobedience against leg-
islation by the U.S. Congress that would establish  a financial oversight board
for Puerto Rico. “With this activity, we express our strong opposition to the fis-
cal control board that is cooking in the U.S. Congress,” the MST, which was
demonstrating across from the José V. Toledo Federal Building & U.S. Court-
house in Old San Juan, said in a statement..."

CAYEY PEAKS NOW NATURAL RESERVE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla offi cially approved the demarcation of the
Planadas-Yeyesa natural reserve (known as las Tetas de Cayey) on Thursday,
thereby converting it into one of the largest protected areas in Puerto Rico with
great importance for the southern aquifer, animal species and cultural resources.
The natural reserve is so named after the names of its two large peaks -- Plana-
das and Yeyesa -- both of an approximate elevation of 2,559 feet (780 meters)
above sea level..."

WATER RATE HIKE COULD BE PUSHED BACK

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority Executive Director Alberto Láza-
ro said Sunday the chances of an increase in water rates could be pushed back
with the approval of House Bill 2786, which seeks to address the public corpo-
ration’s funding needs for capital improvements. The so-called PRASA Revita-
lization Act is slated to be approved today, delaying the possibility of a rate hike
next month, as Lázaro had warned was a possibility earlier this year..."