The overhaul of Puerto Rico’s permitting system is reportedly moving ahead as planned, substantially increasing the number of permits granted to businesses by a growing force of highly trained specialists in this process.

The new Permit Management Office (OGPe) has managed 89% of the approximate 50,000-plus permits and recommendations requests it has received over the past year.
 
Xtrategit Corporation was strategically involved in the transformation of the permit management system, structuring the consolidation of more than 20 government agencies into a one-stop shop that streamlined the system into three new permitting operations.

Xtrategit Corporation’s support led to the successful launch of more efficient agencies in less than a year. During that period, through the development of a Project Management Office (PMO), Xtrategit Corporation helped define a strategic framework and business processes for transformation, technical, budget, financial and organizational structures.

Prior to the inauguration of the new permitting agencies, Xtrategit Corporation completed the digitalization of 10 years’ worth of construction plans archived by Puerto Rico’s permit agency. These documents were indexed and registered using Alfresco, a software on the forefront of current document management applications. This enabled the access and integration of construction plans through the new permitting system, and freed office space for new agency operations.

Close to $550 million have been registered in approved construction permits in 2011 and the average processing time has been substantially reduced to adapt to the requirements of Law 161, which calls for permits to be issued within 90 days for most companies and within 60 days for small and mid-sized businesses. The novel technology system allows for full online application and follow-up of over 40 permit related services, including the submission of construction plans certified with a digital signature, as well as the functionality for authorized professionals and authorized inspectors to process permits and certifications.