The Weekly Journal - April 29 - May 4, 2020

Wednesday, April 29- May 5, 2020 / no. 053

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

Private Sector Pushing to Reopen the Economy P6 Health Department Still in the Hot Seat P7

Consumer Confidence

Empty Hotels Devastating Tourism P8

Falls Due to COVID-19 Impact >Courtesy of Discover Puerto Rico

Curbs in spending underway; focus on essentials

A Rosario Fajardo

NASA Creates Video Game to Save Coral Reefs P14

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

lthough there are fewer spending opportunities in the midst of Puerto Rico’s strict lockdown and curfew, due to the coronavirus crisis, many residents are wary of the future and are curbing their spending patterns.

On the one hand, the lockdown means no dinners out, no shopping trips and no driving, so that means

fewer expenses. But returning to “normal” spending patterns after the COVID-19 crisis abates could be problematic for many.

One Condado resident, who declined to be named for publication, said she and her husband are spending one-third less today than before the lockdown. “But we also gained two kids (20 and 22), who are currently sheltering with us. We definitely were ‘empty nesters’ before, able to travel and make food plans on the fly, and only pay for two people,” she said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, April 29, 2020 >

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SEGUIMOS CRECIENDO. REPRESENTANDO SOBRE 500,000 EMPLEOS DIRECTOS E INDIRECTOS. Iraelia Pernas ACODESE

Carlos López-Lay Bella Group

Adriel Longo Creative Development

Rodroherick Correa López Global Mattress

Raúl Menéndez Actual Mortgage Bankers

Francisco Díaz-Massó Bermúdez, Longo, Díaz-Massó, LLC

Ramón de León Custom Group

Víctor Gómez Gómez Hermanos

Waleska Rivera Danosa Caribbean

Sammy Ramos GMT LLC

Luis Fernández Dantzler Maderas Tratadas

GUIA

Bettina Mercado Bettina Cosmetics Abner Barbosa Bestway Transport, Inc.

Teresa González Ferrer DCV Legal Services

Brenda Marrero BMA Global

Franco Mondo DDM Professional Leasing Services

Marisabel Ramos Adrenaline Group Wally Toro Aireko Construction Group Carlos Rivera Aireko Services & Installations Alberto Cruz Allied Logistics Felipe Hernández APC (Alianza Puertorriqueña de Comunicaciones Efrén Pagan Arco Publicidad Marisol Vega Arcos Dorados McDonald’s Iván Báez Asociación de Comercio al Detal Jaime Plá-Cortés Asociación de Hospitales PR Marcos Rodríguez Asociación de Comerciantes de Materiales de Construcción Marisol Vega ASORE Rafael Vélez Atabey Capital

Noel Berríos BERRÍOS

Eduardo Carrera Boys and Girls Club Ángel L. Quiñones Borikuas Corp.

Ignacio Alvarez BPPR Eduardo Zuñiga Brodersen Enterprises of PR, Inc. (Popeyes) Aniceto Solares Burger King & Fire House José Ledesma Cámara de Comercio Ángel Santiago Caribbean Produce Rolando Jatib Cayo Caribe Enrique Ortiz de Montellano Claro Puerto Rico

Raúl Rodríguez Droguerías Betances Ricardo de Varona DV Construction Felipe Pérez El Mesón Sandwiches Ramón González Simonet Empire Gas Tito González Empresas Caparra Jaime L. Fonalledas Empresas Fonalledas Humberto Rovira Encanto Restaurants Ángel A. Fullana Olivencia F&R Construction Group, Inc. Daniel Rodríguez FEMBI Mortage Bankers, Inc.

Rafi Moreno Hello Media, LLC Ervin Rodríguez Hipódromo Camarero Mandy García Ground Agency Antonio Casellas HUB (Carrión Laffitte y Casellas) Federico Sánchez-Ortiz Interlink Ramón Leal IRSI José Santiago José Santiago, Inc. Lally Mondo Joglar Associates José A. Salva John Napoli & Associates Bernardo Medina KROMA Enrique Blanco La Pescadería Palmas del Mar Ilia Toledo Laboratorios Toledo

José Canto Auto Grupo

Gustavo Hermida CIC Construction Group

Aurelio Alemán First Bank

Alberto Cámara Ruiz Axis Care

Ralph Christiansen CIG Insurance

Rick Newman Flagship Services Corp.

Juan Casillas B Media

Alberto de la Cruz Coca-Cola Bottlers

Stephanie Moore Fundación Hospital San Jorge

Carlos Cuebas Maderas 3C

Alejandro Ballester Ballester Hermanos

Richard Santana Colectivo 360

Joey García García Trucking Services

Juan Donestevez Jr. Maderera Donestevez, Inc.

Francisco Luzio Londong Consulting Group Cristina Sumaza Lote 23

Mario Pagán Mario Pagán Restaurant Group

Brett Finn Johnson Plaza Food Systems

José Revuelta SuperMax

Ángel Torres Plaza Provisions

Eduardo Marxuach Supermercados Econo, Inc.

Julio Ortiz PRADA

Olga Díaz Santiago Sunbay Marina

Federico Stubbe Jr. PRISA

Jorge Martel T-Mobile

Carolina Corral Puerto del Rey Marina

Ángel Alvarez Tactical Media

Rafael Álvarez Méndez & Co.

Roberto Rodríguez Puerto Rico Fast Ferries, LLC

Agustín Cabrer Target Rent a Car

Stevan Micheo Micheo Music

Rodrigo Zavala Puma Energy

José Soto MIDA

José R. Soto Ralph's Supermercado y Mayorista

Roberto Villamil Mayagüez Mall Miguel A. Maza Maza & Associates Arturo García MCV Nelson Menda Me Salvé, Inc.

Tommy Hill Million Air Silvio López Mortgage Bankers Association of Puerto Rico Marta Mabel Pérez Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico Pedro Andrés Neptuno Networks Bryan Ortiz NOVADERM Louisse Herger OLV Hotels Michael Mateo Plaza Cellars Elpidio Nuñez Northwestern Selecta Jorge Rodríguez PACIV José González Freyre Pan American Grain Carlos Saltz Permuy Legal Services PCS

Juan F. Bravo III Ranger American Jesús Herbón Repostería Kasalta Rolando Maynulet RIMA Construction Rolando Jatib Restaurante Cayo Caribe Lourimer Rodríguez Roma Joaquín Bacardí, III Ron del Barrilito Bryan Shames Rooms to Go Felipe Flores Rolón III SARCO Nilda Morales SER de Puerto Rico Mateo Cidre Sobao by Los Cidrines Carlos Díaz Vivó St. James Security José Vazquez Barquet Subway Restaurants

José Cancela Telemundo Nelson Capote To Go Nico Megwinoff Valcor Air Master Ricky Newman Verdanza Hotel Matías Fernández Vivo Beach Club Rafael Rojo VRM Companies Wally Castro Wally Castro Marine Iván Báez Walmart (Asociación de Detallistas) Javier Maynulet WAPA TV Jorge Colón Gerena WENDCO Fernando Sumaza West, LLC Primo J. Delgado WorldWide Tires

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a week in review FOMB Calls for a Slow and Gradual Reopening of the Economy The Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) has joined a growing chorus of “voices” in Puerto Rico for the island’s economy to slowly reopen, bearing in mind the need to follow health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Given the apparent success of social distancing measures, “it appears that the next priority should be a gradual reopening of certain elements of the economy to contain the financial effect on the economy as a whole,” the FOMB said. >Archive

Only 7 Percent of Small Businesses in Puerto Rico Got Approvals for PPP Funds A lucky 2,856 small businesses in Puerto Rico received Payment Protection Program approvals, totaling more than $658.57 million in forgivable loans, as of April 16, when the assigned money ran out. These businesses represent about 7 percent of the more than 40,000 small businesses in Puerto Rico, according to the U.S. Census.

Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902

Layoffs, Cuts in Hours Continue in the Private Sector The numbers of the unemployed are continuing to grow in Puerto Rico, as the latest company to be affected is HIMA-San Pablo Hospitals, which announced that layoffs and cuts in hours would affect 2,000 of its 4,900 staff around the island. HIMA-San Pablo operates four hospitals in Puerto Rico: Caguas, Bayamón, Humacao and Fajardo. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

Human Resources Director Arlene Rolón, PHR arolon@elvocero.com

Multi-Platform Digital Director Stephanie Gómez Álvarez sgomez@elvocero.com

Comptroller Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com

Traffic Director Ilia M. Pérez Centeno iperez@elvocero.com

Multi-Platform Graphic Director Héctor L. Vázquez hvazquez@elvocero.com

Production Director Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com

Editorial Director Juan Miguel Muñiz Guzmán jmuniz@elvocero.com

Assistant Editor/ Reporter Rosario Fajardo rfajardo@wjournal.com

Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300 Customer Service: 787-622-7480

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/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “No trips to Marshalls!... [But] trips to local grocery stores have increased, but the same general lists of eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, cereal.

With the kids here now, we’ve also added their favorite foods that we usually wouldn’t get, so our grocery bills are significantly higher now,” she added.

Travel plans have also been affected. “So far, we’ve canceled two trips for professional conferences that we were going to travel to, and a baby shower for the first ‘next generation’ baby in our family,” said the Condado resident.

Once the coronavirus lockdown is over, she and her family are going to remain cautious, due to health and economic reasons. “If a restaurant is using safe distancing for tables, we would go eat out again when allowed to, but I anticipate not doing it as much anymore. With double our family members, it would be twice as expensive, so not quite the sweet spot it was before,” she noted.

“We still plan to travel to the U.S. this summer for family visits, if that is possible with some kind of ‘re-opening’ in July. This would be in houses with only family involved, and other plans to attend a folk festival in Canada with friends in July have been canceled. We had played with the idea of a trip to Europe, but no longer want to do that, even if we could. It feels scary,” she said.

“We canceled a trip to Roatán [in Honduras] over Spring Break and have no plans to do that again, either. I would go to the western part of Puerto Rico tomorrow, if we could travel. I think

I would go to the western part of Puerto Rico tomorrow, if we could travel. I think essentials cover it, although that definition is so tricky, right? Family reunions feel essential. Maybe a haircut! No new shoes.

-A Condado resident on her future spending plans

essentials cover it, although that definition is so tricky, right? Family reunions feel essential. Maybe a haircut! No new shoes,” she added.

Carmen Velázquez, a secretary, has cut her spending severely since her husband is no longer working as a car salesman. “Groceries and bills, paying the mortgage and car loans—that is our priority now,” she said. “No shopping for clothes or anything else. We are not ordering anything online and we are not ordering any takeout from restaurants.”

She laughed when asked about future travel plans. “No way. We are staying in Puerto Rico,” she said.

Juanita Valentin-Morris, a University of Puerto

Rico retiree, is among the lucky residents whose finances have not been severely affected and whose future spending plans include travel to the U.S. mainland.

“My expenses have gone way down since the middle of March. I usually fill up gas tank once a week with $30 and I haven’t done that in a month.

I still have half a tank of gas. I used to go to Sam’s Club twice a month and I went once in four weeks.

My weekly visits to SuperMax were cut back to three visits in six weeks,” she told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. “I live alone with a dog and my monthly expenses in groceries and gasoline were around $1,000. I don’t have Amazon Prime because I never order by mail, but lockdown has forced me to place mail order for clothing and shoes,” she added. Once the crisis is over, she plans to visit family and attend a convention in Arizona in July.

Valentin-Morris said an educator’s convention was scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico at the end of June, with organizers expecting over 300 educators from the Gulf Region at the Caribe Hilton.

She expects that convention to be canceled soon.

Financial pressures growing for many

As the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic continues to mount, an April report by the Pew Research Center has found that nearly half of Americans have been economically affected

by COVID-19.

Overall, 43 percent of U.S. adults now say that they or someone in their household has lost a job or taken a cut in pay due to the outbreak, up from 33 percent in the latter half of March. Among lower-income adults, an even higher share (52 percent) say they or someone in their household has experienced this type of job upheaval.

Only 23 percent of lower-income adults reported having “rainy day funds set aside that would cover their expenses for three months in case of an emergency such as job loss, sickness or an economic downturn.”

The middle income range in the U.S. is about $37,500 to $112,600 annually for a three-person household, according to Pew Research. Lowerincome families have incomes below the $37,500 figure and upper-income families have incomes greater than roughly $112,600.

Consumer spending falls in the U.S.

U.S. consumer confidence has plunged, with retail sales plunging by 8.7 percent in March, as the vast majority of Americans hunkered down at home under shelter-in-place orders, reported The Associated Press (AP). Consumer spending drives two-thirds of the U.S. economy and the record drop in retail sales is a symptom of the sharp recession that most economists believe the U.S. has already entered. The AP said economists at JPMorgan Chase now forecast the U.S. economy will shrink by a record-shattering 40 percent in the April-June quarter.

Discretionary spending by shoppers is expected to collapse by 40 percent to 50 percent in the first half of 2020, according to Fitch Ratings.

“With clear signs of panic buying of necessities and the fact that lock downs were introduced

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Dreaming of internal tourism in Puerto Rico, after the lockdown is over. Pictured is the outdoor pool in Lajas. >Courtesy of the Municipality of Lajas

only around the middle of the month means that far worse is to come in April Discretionary and the second spending by shoppers is quarter more expected to collapse by 40 percent to 50 percent generally,” said in the first half of 2020, Michael Pearce, according to Fitch Ratings. an economist at Capital Economics, a consulting firm.

Signifying the titanic shift in consumer behavior, grocery store sales jumped by nearly 26 percent, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, as Americans stocked up on food and consumer goods to ride out the pandemic. And a category that mostly includes online shopping rose 3.1 percent.

However, auto sales dropped 25.6 percent, while clothing store sales collapsed, sliding 50.5 percent. Restaurants and bars reported a nearly 27 percent fall in revenues.

Spending may be falling at an even faster pace than the retail sales figures suggest, as the Commerce Department numbers do not include spending on services such as hotel stays, airline tickets or movie theaters, all of them suffering some of the most severe financial duress during the coronavirus epidemic.

“The pullback in spending is intensifying the

In fact,

problems facing brick and mortar retailers which were already struggling with online competition.

“With a nationwide shutdown of malls and most stores, the pandemic is putting many clothing retailers in peril, while increasing the dominance of big box stores that have remained open during the pandemic because they sell essentials like food and household goods,” the AP said.

More than 250,000 stores, including Macy’s, Nordstrom and Nike, which sell non-essential merchandise have been shuttered since mid-March.

Major retailers including J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Nordstrom have furloughed hundreds of thousands of workers, while Walmart and Amazon are on hiring sprees to meet the surging demand of shoppers buying online, for curbside drop-off or delivery.

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/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Reactivating Puerto Rico’s Economy: Private Sector Raring To Go

Rollout process would begin after May 3

T Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

he economic task force created

by Gov. Wanda Vázquez to advise her administration on economic affairs throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forwarded its recommendations on how to reopen Puerto Rico’s economy, as well as a guidance of best practices for companies. The governor is expected to have a press conference today, when she is expected to release further details.

These standards propose a gradual restoration divided into three phases, with each of these encompassing select sectors of the island’s economy. Each phase would cover a period of two Construction and various manufacturing sectors would weeks to ensure that companies are taking the be among the first to re-establish their operations. appropriate mitigation risks, while safeguarding the population throughout the peak of infection.

“As more sectors continue to open, we can Zavala told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. measure what has been the increase, if any, in Mirroring the health counterpart’s suggestions, contagion. Depending on how the economic task force suggested the increases have continued, prioritizing during Phase 1 that will dictate whether we can manufacturing and its subsectors, move to a subsequent phase or such as biosciences and whether we have to regress,” aerospace, as well as construction said Emilio Colón Zavala, leader and all their respective supply Highest of the economic task force. chains. In an index compiled risk sectors of The process would begin by the task force, construction, coronavirus spread: after May 3, which is expected mining and information were Education, health and to be the last effective date of identified as the sectors with the social services the government emergency lowest risk of contagion.

Lowest risk: measures that have kept Puerto If the first phase goes smoothly, Construction, mining Rico under lockdown since Phase 2 would include financial and information March 15. activities and their supply sectors “We are trying to balance chains, as well as professional the risk of increased contagion and business services that are based on metrics that we can currently not exempt from the easily measure with the need to executive order that mandates the open up the economy after seven weeks,” Colón lockdown. According to the economic task force’s

In fact,

draft, more than 300,000 people should be back at work by the end of Phase 2, provided that these businesses adopt the required guidelines to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Phase 3 would center on the vast majority of non-essential services, excluding educational services, which are deemed as posing the highest risk of contagion, followed by health and social services. The businesses that are not included in Phase 3 would reopen after the coronavirus threat is contained. These are expected to be movie theaters, gyms and beauty salons, among others.

Colón Zavala affirmed that the economic plan does not intend to lift the curfew that has been in place since the first executive order was enacted, keeping residents indoors from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. “[The curfew] would not be removed at first.

Maybe a change could be made if the governor deems it fitting,” he said.

Guidelines for Businesses

Before they can open, businesses must submit documentation on social distancing measures to be enforced in the workplace and what other measures will be taken to diminish risk. To achieve these means, the economic task force has been working on re-activation guidelines for the private sector.

A draft document contains recommendations and descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards but is not in itself a regulation, nor does it create new legal obligations.

The re-activation draft plan states that the company’s highest-ranking official based in Puerto Rico must ensure the mechanisms and protocols to maintain a list of all the active workforce and their schedules, that all employees are properly trained in the company’s COVID-19 mitigation strategy, that the company is following guidelines established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and must submit a COVID-19 Self-Certification Notification to the P.R. Labor Department and the P.R. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Reporter Maricarmen Rivera Sánchez contributed to this story.

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David Capó, head of the Epidemiology Office of the Department of Health >Carlos Rivera Giusti

Health Department Lacking COVID-19 Monitoring Staff

Hearings ensue over controversial test-kit purchase debacle

A Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

@giopgarofalo

s controversy engulfs the Puerto Rico Health Department due to inconsistent data of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on the island and ongoing hearings over a failed purchase of test kits, it was revealed that the agency is seriously lacking in personnel to track the spread of the virus that has kept most of the population under lockdown.

The director of the agency’s Epidemiology Office, David Capó, said on April 27 that there are only 21 employees assigned with following up on the reported “unique cases” of COVID-19.

According to the official, the public entity requires at least 60 people to properly carry out this task, nearly three times more than the current number.

“At this time, we are evaluating the capacity through the [Health] portal to be able to expand to more [people for tracking] because we understand that the number of cases will increase later and, prospectively, they will not be able to cope. We are presently identifying agreements with schools of public health, medicine and pharmacy to ensure that this daily monitoring of cases can fall at the central level and that we have support,” Capó said.

There have been at least 1,400 confirmed cases and 86 coronavirus-related deaths in Puerto

Rico at the time of this writing, but the peak of infection is expected to take place next week, the epidemiologist affirmed, adding that the number of deaths has remained “stable.”

However, the Health agency’s data has raised suspicions. Last week, the agency was forced to revise its tally of confirmed cases after it was revealed that it had repeat-counted multiple test results, meaning that there were fewer cases than those reported.

Meanwhile, some in the health and political spheres have denounced that there are confirmed cases that have not been included in Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, available at www.salud. pr.gov. For example, the mayor of Loíza, Julia Nazario, said in a radio interview that her municipality has nine confirmed cases and one death, but Health only lists one positive test result in the dashboard.

No Accountability for Governor

Apart from a lack of staff and supposed tracking irregularities, the Health agency is marred with a failed and controversial attempt to purchase COVID-19 test kits—an issue that has prompted public hearings before the Puerto Rico House Health Committee.

The government attempted to buy 1 million test kits for $38 million from Apex General Contractors - which in turn was supposedly getting the tests from Australian-based company ProMedica - paying $19 million in advance. The Australian government is now investigating the latter over falsely claiming that the test kits have been approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration and the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration.

Health Secretary Lorenzo González and

members of the Health Task Force appointed to assist in Puerto Rico’s COVID-19 emergency management were called by the House committee to testify on the failed transaction.

Dr. Juan Salgado affirmed that neither he nor the other task force members serving in their private characters are responsible for the purchase fiasco, pinning the blame on Adil Rosa, then-assistant secretary of Health Administration, and Mariel Rivera, a purchasing analyst for the department.

“I believe that [Rosa] mistook what was leadership for an order. What we could do was recommend the number of tests that had to be done and she was in charge of finding out which company offered them. We never gave her an order to hire that company,” Salgado said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Wanda Vázquez has reasserted that she is not responsible for the agency’s shortcomings, affirming that it is the department’s responsibility to handle these processes adequately.

Popular Democratic Party legislators introduced a Senate resolution that would have demanded accountability from the governor over the multiple irregularities in the Health Department, but it was promptly shut down by the New Progressive Party majority. The measure intended to pressure the governor to respond to questions by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa) a senior member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, concerning the local government’s chain of command to address the coronavirus pandemic, instability in the Health Department and the cause of various resignations.

Reporters Maricarmen Rivera Sánchez and Ayeza Díaz Rolón contributed to this story.

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Puerto Rico Tourism: Nowhere To Go But Up Beaches among the first in the visitor economy to reopen rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

he most recent research briefing

by Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization (DMO) reports that during the week of March 1 to April 11, hotel occupancy rates on the island plummeted from 77 percent to 5 percent.

In comparison, during the same period, hotel occupancy rates in the U.S. mainland dropped from 62 percent to 22 percent.

The data shows that the coronavirus crisis has hit the Puerto Rico tourism industry harder than its U.S. counterpart. The island’s general lockdown is much stricter than those in the U.S. mainland. For example, an employee at Vacasa, an international property-management company based in Portland, Ore., told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that the company was accepting existing reservations for the West Coast in mid-April, although thousands of short-term rentals had been canceled. Residents of the City of Roses can walk around freely and parks are open.

Meanwhile, family members told your correspondent that they could go for a run on the streets of New York City and drive from Minneapolis, Minn. to nearby towns to buy comfort-food pies “to go.”

Still, Adam Sacks, the president of Tourism Economics, noted that the coronavirus epidemic is hitting the U.S. economy hard. To date, nearly 30 million people have lost their jobs in the last three months (layoffs and furloughs). Hourly workers stateside have also seen their hours cut by an average 60 percent.

Tourism Economics is expecting a “U” shaped recovery that will take 12-18 months. Specifically, Sacks predicted that $400 billion in travel spending, both domestically and internationally, will be lost in 2020.

In terms of travel spending losses, Puerto Rico is among the worst markets in the U.S., comparing percentage changes year-over-year; the island is next to last before Rhode Island.

The worst markets that have seen travel spending plummet by more than 80 percent,

>Archive

T Rosario Fajardo

year-over-year are: Arizona, California, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Rhode Island.

This indicates that the Enchanted Island has a bigger hole to climb out of.

said. “I want to remind the public that the requirements for social distancing and avoiding mass gatherings are still in effect and will be fully enforced. That means absolutely no congregations of more than 10 individuals.”

He warned that if the public did not adhere to the new Beaches reopening with regulations, the beaches would social distancing be closed again. “I want to be As reported by THE WEEKLY absolutely clear, no picnics, no JOURNAL, while Puerto Rico is parties, no DJs, no get-togethers, still grappling with easing its strict In terms of travel no camping, no kick-backs, no lockdown and curfew restrictions, spending losses, bonfires,” Bryan said. the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has Puerto Rico is among In the U.S. mainland, California, reopened its beaches. the worst markets in Florida and Texas have reopened The USVI, a sister U.S. territory the U.S., comparing in some areas with social of Puerto Rico, is also a major percentage changes distancing rules in place. In these tourism destination. year-over-year; the communities, beaches are open On April 20, USVI Gov. Albert island is next to last for a few hours a day, while Bryan Jr. announced that their before Rhode Island. some are “barring lounging on beaches have reopened, as have chairs and towels with coolers,” the beaches under the jurisdiction to prevent social gatherings, of the National Park Service, with according to The Associated the exception of Cramer’s Park on St. Croix’s East Press.

In Florida, for example, beaches are limited End, which was vandalized and may reopen soon. to gatherings of no more than 10 people and “We are allowing beach restaurants to reopen, spaced at least six feet apart.

but we are restricting the sale of alcohol,” Bryan

In fact,

/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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The Shape of the Economic Recovery: V, U or L?

Coronavirus crisis has changed human behavior, perhaps permanently

S

The Weekly Journal Staff

uffice it to say that the coronavirus epidemic is on everyone’s minds, not just the medical concerns, but also the state of the economy and recovery after the crisis abates.

Birling Capitol Advisor’s recent report focuses on the top issues that are on the minds of every entrepreneur, citizen and elected official: What will the economy look like after the pandemic?

The following is an excerpt from the latest Spyglass Advisor report: The Coronavirus Pandemic crisis has resulted in one of the fastest economic contractions in history.

We have begun to analyze what may determine the shape of the recovery in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

As the economy of the U.S. and Puerto Rico came to a halt, we knew that the economic impact would be fast and severe. However, what we need to figure out is how we come out of this economic contraction. There are three distinct variables to the economic recovery that follows.

In these situations, the recovery represents itself in either a “V,” “U” or “L” shape. We predict a “U-shaped” recovery since it better represents the gradual resumption of activity that the White House Medical Task Force is favoring after the prolonged period of social distancing measures begins to ease.

The International Monetary Fund predicts that the U.S. Real (Gross Domestic Product) GDP Outlook will contract during 2020 in the range of -5.9 percent and Puerto Rico Real GDP Outlook is predicting a -6 percent contraction, and we do not expect to experience optimal economic activity until the latter part of 2021.

The Coronavirus Pandemic is a classic example of what economists call an “exogenous shock,” which means that it is an event or development coming from outside of the system itself that has huge effects on an economy.

Some examples include wars, natural disasters, technological change, changes in demographics and pandemics.

Defining the “V,” “U,” and “L” shaped economic recoveries:

The “V” shape: This is probably the most bullish; the thought process is that the economy was fundamentally strong before the coronavirus lockdown. Thus, a V-shaped recovery implies a fast return to the same levels the economy had [before the crisis] and the second half of 2020 absorbing the shortfall of the first half, which would result in 2020 contracting by -1.2%. Odds of this occurring is 27 percent.

The “U” Shape: This recovery occurs gradually; the economy does not return to normal levels quickly and the rest of 2020 does not recover fully.

The “U” shape recovery is based on the [premise of] coronavirus not spreading after the lockdown and social distancing has been reduced. What the “U” shape predicts is that human behavior will change and alter how business is conducted, how socialization happens. We tend to agree with the “U” shape as we are convinced that human behavior will be changed for the next three generations. You see, it takes a human being, on average, 66 days for a habit to become automatic.

We will reach 66 days of lockdown on May 19, 2020, and once that happens, our new reality becomes a habit. In this scenario, GDP contracts by -3.2 percent in 2020, and even by late 2021, GDP has not returned to 2019 levels. Odds of this occurring is 58 percent.

The “L” Shape: Of the three, the “L” recovery is by far the most pessimistic, as it would maintain economic weakness and the coronavirus causing permanent damage to the economic model. The “L” shape would keep unemployment at higher levels and thousands of businesses filing for bankruptcy as the government safety net would prove inadequate. In the “L” shape, an economic depression occurs, lasting beyond 2021. Odds of this occurring is 15 percent.

The permanent effects that the coronavirus may have in the U.S. and Puerto Rico economies are difficult to determine and calculate. Our new reality is wearing face masks, using latex gloves, carrying sanitizer, [medicinal] alcohol and practicing social distancing; avoiding large crowds is on route to becoming a long-term habit and a daily routine for all of us.

human beings during the year to come.

resolutions we are about to make.

Almost every dream we have as

their record, their honesty and their achievements. With primaries in

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country took over th defend its values and

/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Therefore, I think it’s As we see in the first paragraph, Vicenty pharma’s industry leX this is simplyEdgardo not true. You might Founder of Los Cidrines Entrepreneurshould and Financial Analyst control of the narratX think these companies Entrepreneur & Founder of Los Cidrines our government into contribute even more, but ignoring making the phaseou that they already are one of the election issue. most important contributors to The people need t our economy and society in terms understand what wil of job creation and paid taxes, is if the deductions pro completely absurd.

Act 154 are phased o I write this op-ed because this federal government. industry, which we’ve already understand what op established plays a vital role in our the table to help pha economy, is coming under attack, in Puerto Rico and m for the second time in 20 years. It in the island.

Instead, he dgardo, our sector’s contribu worries me to see a lack action dayof basis.

We have athe limited information is equivalent to our politicians refer to them as foreign, pharmaceutical next decisions flying blindly and hoping not number of tests available, economy. Whether i from our government and pharma are life so that simply to hit anything. when they are US companies, industry is or the industry’s tax str leaders. I fully expected bytesting everyone death.

Last is not a short-term viable I am convinced that if the and continuously attack them, undoubtedly that Trump’s guilty t now, industry and government week, the option; we will need to get Health Department were to the workhorse threatening to raise their taxes one apply, leaders would have come out An alternative private sector creative. to extending cur work together with private way or another whenever there is a of Puerto Rico’s allowing plants to bu to announce a joint workgroup published massive testing could be laboratories, 330 Health budget shortfall or some governor anolo, economy.

It pays Centers, a video, followed by a letter Puerto Ricans “Are randomized Under HMOs (which tend without i dedicated solely to solving the testing.generation the Governor Ready!” to reopen the this solution we would use to have their labs),more and money. $3 billionaddressed in annualtotaxes, which wants toown spend from the AEE, or som issues generated by the phaseout economy and go back to a portion of our available public and private hospitals, Therefore, it is not surprising is over 33claiming, percent“WE ofARE ourREADY!” budget, thing that only indus ofour Actlives.

154.We know to step by step reopen the living tests to sample the general they would have more than that a large portion of our employs 78,000 direct workers know.

But this hasn’t happened; both economy. this does not mean things population on a daily basis enough capacity to administer population does not understand who earn on average $62,000 and They assured the country will groups go back to normal.to Forhaveand get generalized figures the necessary tests. Politics I genuinely believ appear taken they will implement strictin the an foreseeable future, we of how contagion rates hasthe stopped this from of the importance spends $500 million annually proactive communic “ignore and pray nothing health measures work, shop, socialize change throughout time. but if we truly pharmaceutical and medical devicewill happens” capital expenditures in in itstheir plants. happening, education, we can ch mentality and that businesses to help prevent and celebrate differently.

We also need a large want to reopen the country, industries to our economy and To put this into perspective, current narrative of ourof the general contagion. These measures But is wenot are acceptable. willing to makeHoping portion we need to figure out a way to society as a whole.

Our politicians’ pharma represents 30 percent of foreigners and get e government takes the population lead in these include social distancing, these changes because to download get this done. requiring thewhile use oftourism masks, is to go on; we can’t contact appunderstand that wha We also need to help has actually led life has populist rhetoric Puerto Rico’s GDP, conversations is futile,awe are tracing in taking clients’ temperatures hiding in our houses in order to efficiently monitor the billionthat these are evil,live the just 7 percent. many to$2.2 believe the industry is good middle of an election cycle, and and being in constant forever. identify hot sports and in federal funding our corporations that take, take and However, for some inexplicable is pleasantly evident that our governor communication with the I it was slow downand infectionand rates.vice versa. As Pu government received to help take while giving nothing back reason, our government has her opponents are more worried we can’t allow for a r Health Department. In other surprised by the Private Puerto Rico’s government fight the spread of COVID–19. to their communities and the spent decades without a coherent words, in return for being Sector Coalition’s clearly does not have the debacle to happ I am worried that in an 936 about campaigning than actually allowed operate, they are announcement last operational capacity to election year, the government strategy to keeptothem investing island. might not survive it. preventing an economic crisis.

Manuel Cidre Cidre

By Manuel

TE

Watch Out! Don’t Threat the Workhorse of Puerto Rico’s Economy Are We Truly Ready?

volunteering to become part of the island’s detection and prevention system.

I know these business people and have no doubt they will do as they say. Still, we all know just stating “WE ARE READY”! is not enough.

If they truly want to reopen their businesses, the private sector needs to get the rest of the country involved and as serious in implementing preventive health measures as they are. To win this battle, the health sector needs everyone to take action; it’s up to us, the private sector, to make it happen.

We might be ready, but currently, the island’s Health Department clearly isn’t. In order to successfully open the economy, we need them to exponentially ramp up testing. Deciding to eliminate the lockdown without this

M

will be tempted to use those resources for measures that help them win votes, but don’t necessarily keep people healthy or help jumpstart the economy. We need to publicly call out the Health Secretary and Governor, and hold them accountable for the use of those funds. We need to make sure they understand that the no. 1 priority is buying more tests and building out the necessary infrastructure to use them, get the results quickly and record the data correctly.

If we allow politics to govern the decision-making process during the next couple of months, we will be in trouble. Like Groucho Marx said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

week and the video they produced claiming “We Are Ready!” But are they truly ready? In their communications, they make mention of all the health measures they will take in their businesses, but they don’t talk about testing or contact tracing at a national level.

I fear the business people in this coalition are still operating under the mentality that they can focus solely on their businesses because the government will take care of the macro issues pertaining to the country. If so, I am sorry to say, “You Are Not Ready!”

To reopen successfully, we need to have a robust COVID-19 testing system that allows us to monitor contagion rates on a day-to-

pull both of these projects off, therefore it’s up to the private sector to get it done.

I would love for this coalition’s second video to be a detailed explanation of how they will use their economic resources, knowledge and ability to get things done to implement the health measures our government has proven incapable of doing, because without these systems in place, opening up permanently is a pipe dream.

The last thing we want is for the lockdown to be reinstated 30 days after it ends. This will always be a possibility, but we need to control the risks as much as possible by having robust data.

We Are Ready! But we could be better prepared.

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, April 29, 2020

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27 de abril de 2020 Hon. Wanda Vázquez Garced Gobernadora de Puerto Rico La Fortaleza Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico Estimada señora Gobernadora: La industria de seguros es esencial para el desarrollo económico de cualquier país, pues permite que puedan funcionar los otros renglones de la economía. Esta industria ofrece al consumidor compensación ante la pérdida de bienes personales y comerciales valiosos, protección a los seres queridos en caso de muerte o incapacidad, planificación financiera para el retiro, y cobertura de enfermedades y condiciones de salud instrumentales en un momento como el que atravesamos con la pandemia del COVID-19.

La industria de seguros de Puerto Rico genera sobre $12,000 millones en primas y unos 30,000 empleos directos, indirectos e inducidos. A su vez, la industria mantiene una nómina de sobre $644 millones anuales y sus empleados generan unos $185 millones en ingresos al fisco. ¿Por qué debe considerarse un servicio esencial la industria de seguros? · Ante la creciente magnitud de fenómenos naturales y la amenaza de la pandemia de COVID-19, el manejo de riesgo se convierte en un elemento clave en las operaciones comerciales. En especial, ante la cercanía de la temporada de huracanes. ·

“Homeland Security” considera la industria de seguros como un servicio esencial. De acuerdo con un informe de la Asociación Nacional de Comisionados de Seguros (NAIC), 41 estados en los que hay órdenes de cierre, han considerado los aseguradores como un servicio esencial. En los otros nueve estados no hay orden de cierre y la mayoría opera con normalidad.

¿Cuál es el reclamo de ACODESE? La propuesta de la Asociación de Compañías de Seguros de Puerto Rico (ACODESE), integrada por 20 aseguradores que operan en Puerto Rico, es que se permita que los aseguradores reabran paulatinamente. Esa apertura sería con todas las medidas de higiene necesarias, uso de equipo de protección personal, distanciamiento físico y recibiendo público estrictamente por citas. Y siguiendo las normas establecidas por agencias locales, federales y organizaciones mundiales como el CDC, la OMS, el Departamento de Salud y del Trabajo de Puerto Rico, y OSHA, entre otros.

Las compañías continuarían operando a través de sus diferentes plataformas para aquellos servicios que pueden ofrecerse de manera remota. Pero la industria de seguros es altamente compleja y hay innumerables transacciones que requieren la presencia física para realizarse conforme a las regulaciones aplicables. ¿Qué transacciones no se pueden realizar remotamente en la industria de seguros? · Desembolsos que representan un ingreso para los asegurados, como pagos de SINOT, distribuciones de IRAs, pagos de indemnizaciones por condiciones cubiertas y otras cuentas que requieren firmas. ·

El servicio completo de ajuste y pago de reclamaciones. En este momento, hay personas en espera de pago para reparar sus unidades, hogares o propiedades afectadas.

·

La suscripción de riesgos comerciales requiere una inspección física. Esto es fundamental, porque la temporada de huracanes comienza el 1ro. de junio y los mercados de seguro y reaseguro cierran ante los avisos de tormenta.

·

Auditorías e inspecciones como parte del proceso de reclamación, para cumplir con los requisitos del reasegurador para realizar desembolsos.

Nos reiteramos a favor de las decisiones tomadas por usted para evitar el contagio del virus y seguiremos apoyando las medidas adoptadas en un esfuerzo concertado de todos los sectores de nuestro país. Tenemos que salir fortalecidos de esta experiencia y porque todos somos parte del presente y queremos ser parte del futuro de nuestro país.

Lcda. Rosangela Sanfilippo Presidenta de la Junta de Directores

Lcda. Iraelia Pernas Directora Ejecutiva

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/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Emergencies like the current coronavirus pandemic elevate anxiety levels among the population. >iStock

Online Campaigns Stress the Importance of Mental Health Amid Pandemic Offer support from experts and encourage solidarity over social media

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The Weekly Journal Staff

n the face of widespread anxiety about the effects of the COVID-19 in Puerto Rico, the Ángel Ramos Foundation (ARF) and Carlos Albizu University (AU) are calling on residents to take care of their mental and emotional health.

ARF President Roberto Santa María noted that emergencies like the current global pandemic and the natural disasters the island has experienced in recent years elevate anxiety levels among the population, with social distancing taking an additional toll on mental health.

“Apart from taking urgent measures to protect our physical health, it is essential to strengthen our mental health to ensure the well-being of our youth, their families and their communities,” Santa María said.

ARF and AU have developed psychological advice to manage this pandemic as part of their educational campaign “Mental health is part of your well-being.” The campaign, available at www. seguroysaludable.com, was designed by the AU to offer alternatives on maintaining stability and a

sense of well-being amid the current context.

Dr. José Pons Madera, president of the AU, explained that intense or prolonged stress can spike anxiety levels that can alter the functioning of all physiological systems.

“Each type of danger generates different emotions: fear, courage, repulsion, sadness and mistrust, among others. With the COVID-19, our people are experiencing these emotions, so it is important to also address the issue of mental health to overcome the current challenges.

We trust this campaign will help you with basic tools and direct you to seek help if you need professional support,” Pons stated.

The portal, www.seguroysaludable.com, has messages in video and podcast formats. Likewise, ideas are provided to carry out activities that allow the natural tensions that arise in the face of isolation due to COVID-19 to be relaxed. The psychological advice is prepared by experts in mental health from the higher-education institution.

Social Media Campaign Highlights Optimism

As part of the alternatives to highlight the importance of healthy coexistence, the Office of the Women’s Ombudsman (OPM by its Spanish acronym) has also launched the “#Amor=” campaign, which seeks to share the positive things that take place in the homes of Puerto Rican families.

“Despite the fact that we are experiencing an

unprecedented moment and we have had to rethink our way of living, many families have had the opportunity to share more family time and enjoy these moments. However, we also know that many other people have been victims of gender violence, a social evil that has the potential to increase in periods of extended confinement such as the one we are experiencing today,” said Madeline Bermúdez, interim head of the office.

“It is important to look for alternatives to communicate with the outside world and share our positive experiences at home. We must take that message to those who need to receive it and emulate it because healthy coexistence is something that we can and must experience day by day,” she added.

For the campaign, participants can record videos, take photos or share comments about what they understand love means and how they show it amid the pandemic. When sharing it on social media, people will have to challenge five additional people, tagging the OPM’s respective social accounts and using the hashtag #Amor=.

“With this campaign, we seek to contribute to the emotional health of Puerto Rican families…

When we share our positive experiences with others, we not only set a good example but also contribute to the lives of others,” Bermúdez said.

She noted that if you or someone you know is a victim of violence or harassment, you can contact the Confidential Guidance Line at 787-722-2977, every day and hour of the week.

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/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Many Beaches May Be Closed, But ‘Beach Reads’ Still Coming Dreaming of our return to a simple pleasure

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EW YORK — Mary Parker is a nurse from St. Louis so caught up in the beach novels of Elin Hilderbrand that she makes an annual trip to Nantucket, the Massachusetts island community where Hilderbrand sets her stories.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Parker isn’t sure she’ll make it to Nantucket this year or even find herself close to a beach. But she will continue to make the journey in her mind, through books by Hilderbrand and others.

“We don’t have anything that compares to a place like Nantucket where I’m from,” Parker says. “So writers like Elin Hilderbrand are all we have now if those are the kinds of places you dream of being.

You just need that escape.”

The coronavirus has already shut down most of the country’s bookstores, led to the cancellation of the industry’s annual national convention, BookExpo, and driven publishers to postpone many releases to the fall or next year. It now challenges another publishing and cultural tradition — beach reads.

While beach reads can include any kind of light fiction, many of these romances, thrillers and family dramas are actually set on beaches and summer resorts from Nantucket to the South Carolina coast to Florida.

Beaches are still closed in Puerto Rico, while government officials in New York and California already have warned that some beaches are likely to be closed this summer and travel restricted.

Such summer literary institutions as the book festival in Nantucket will be held online instead. And promotional tours for books will likely remain limited to virtual discussions.

Authors and booksellers contend, and hope, that you don’t need a beach to read a beach book.

Hilderbrand remembers a painful summer growing up when her father had died and the family’s

traditional summer outing was called off. Instead, visit to the Rhode Island beach house where she she worked at a factory making Halloween costumes. spent summers as a child. Nancy Thayer’s “Girls “What I could have used that summer was a book of Summer,” like Hilderbrand’s new book, is set in to replace my summer beach vacation, something Nantucket, while Mary Kay Andrews’ “Hello, Summer” that would have let me escape,” finds a journalist returning to her says Hildebrand, whose bestsellers home in Silver Bay, Florida, where include “The Summer of ‘69” and her family runs local newspapers.

“The Perfect Couple.”

“This year, maybe the beach Fellow author Mary Alice Monroe read will be on somebody’s back While beach says readers tell her something porch or hammock or in the corner reads can include similar about this summer. of an apartment of wherever any kind of light fiction, “They’re hoping I can take them to they’re sheltering at home,” many of these romances, thrillers and family a place they can’t get to themselves,” Andrews says. “What I hope to do dramas are actually set says Monroe, whose books include is take them to the beach in their on beaches and summer “The Summer Guests” and “Beach imagination.” resorts from Nantucket House for Rent.”

Authors already are looking to the South Carolina Beach reads are as carefully to the summer of 2021 and coast to Florida. timed as Christmas books, so new considering whether their next novels by Hilderbrand, Monroe, books will mention the pandemic.

Nancy Thayer and others remain Monroe says she is working on a scheduled for May and June. Hildebrand’s “28 story that will have her characters living through Summers,” inspired in part by the film “Same Time, “this virus saga,” and will brink back the Rutledge Next Year,” traces a long-term affair that began in family of her “Beach House” series in the hope Nantucket in 1993. Monroe’s “On Ocean Boulevard” that readers “will connect with them.” Hilderbrand continues her “Beach House” series set in South worked in a reference to the virus shortly before Carolina. completing “28 Summers,” and says that while it In Barbara Delinsky’s “A Week at the Shore,” won’t be a major plot point in her upcoming work, a New Yorker confronts family issues during a she might find it “unavoidable to mention.”

In fact,

/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

NASA Calls on Gamers,

Citizen Scientists to Help Map World’s Corals

In NeMO-Net video game, players identify and classify corals using 3D images

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>Inter News Service

>Courtesy of the U.S. Virgin Islands Tourism Department

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The Weekly Journal Staff

ASA is inviting video gamers and citizen scientists to embark on virtual ocean-research expeditions to help map coral reefs around the world in an effort to better understand these threatened ecosystems.

During the past several years, researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley have developed new instruments that can look below the ocean surface in more detail than ever before. Using techniques originally developed to look at stars, these “fluid-lensing” cameras use complex calculations to undo the optical distortions created by the water over coral reefs.

NASA has deployed these instruments – mounted on drones or aircraft – on expeditions to Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and elsewhere to collect 3D images of the ocean floor,

including corals, algae and seagrass. However, the data alone do not tell the whole story of what is happening to the corals beneath the waves, which is why NASA needs your help.

Enter NeMO-Net, a video game in which players identify and classify corals using these 3D images while virtually traveling the ocean on their own research vessel, the Nautilus. Principal investigator Ved Chirayath at Ames developed the neural network behind the game, also called NeMONet, or the Neural Multi-Modal Observation and Training Network, which will use player input to build a global coral map.

“NeMO-Net leverages the most powerful force on this planet: not a fancy camera or a supercomputer, but people,” said Chirayath.

“Anyone, even a first grader, can play this game and sort through these data to help us map one of

the most beautiful forms of life we know of.”

On each “dive,” players interact with real NASA data, learning about the different kinds of corals that lie on the shallow ocean floor while highlighting where they appear in the imagery.

Aboard their virtual research vessel, players will be able to track their progress, earn badges, read through the game’s field guide, and access educational videos about life on the sea floor.

As they play the game, players’ actions help train NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer at Ames to recognize corals from any image of the ocean floor, even those taken with less powerful instruments. The supercomputer “learns” from the coral classifications players make by hand, using machine learning techniques to classify on its own.

The more people who play NeMO-NET, the better the supercomputer’s mapping abilities become. Once it has been able to accurately classify corals from low-resolution data included in the game, the supercomputer will be able to map out the world’s corals at an unprecedented resolution. With that map, scientists will better understand what is happening to corals and find ways to preserve them.

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/ Wednesday, April 29, 2020

MAC Introduces Online Curriculum

for the Entire Community

MAC’s beautiful interior courtyard >Archive

Topics include visual arts, climate change and art appreciation

T

The Weekly Journal Staff

he Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC by its Spanish acronym) has launched a diverse program of useful educational resources online for the benefit of the community at a time of environmental concerns.

The educational materials have been produced in direct collaboration with artists, members of the scientific community and specialists in the field of education. The program includes creative workshops with an emphasis on active experiences, learning dynamics and research. They also contain activities designed with key themes from preschool to high school students.

Through the MAC Educa website, maceducapr.org, users can access a variety of educational contents and can easily download the modules, files and videos according to their interests, occupation, levels of education or simply as an art and learning enthusiast.

“The website provides teaching tools so that educators... as well as mothers and fathers— especially during this period—can generate

educational workshops on their own that allow children and youth to exercise their right to equal access to culture and the arts,” said Marianne Ramírez Aponte, executive director and curator in chief at MAC. “The content was created by artists and in alliance with the scientific community, environmentalists and education experts so that residents can get closer to them in a comprehensive way,” she said.

Using the model of integrating the arts with other disciplines, MAC provides educational options linked to contemporary themes, in keeping with its own mission for more than three decades.

That is why users can find references to climate change in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region, as well as an exploration on the use of organic pigments in art and issues concerning social equality.

Descriptions of the Educational Modules

Curricular Integration- Curricular integration modules are based on works from the MAC Permanent Collection. Two teacher guides and individual lessons were created by various specialists in different areas of study. The materials allow for reflective exchanges and the integration of science, mathematics, English, Spanish and visual arts subjects, along with a selection of works of art from Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Organic Engraving- Teaching module that offers fun learning tools for all ages. It integrates photography and video with workshops, provides a

list of suggested materials, a glossary of terms and a bibliography. This resource was created with the aim of integrating the relationship between art and science.

Climate Change- The module offers a series of activities aimed at raising awareness of the causes and effects of global warming. It includes structured step-by-step workshops where both artistic expression and scientific exploration are integrated. The designed activities are linked to key themes in the school curriculum from preschool to high school. In addition, it integrates references to the scientific findings on climate change in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Art Appreciation- In this module, users will find activities aimed at understanding the various elements of art, appreciating works of contemporary art and developing the ability to critique, using as a point of reference artists whose works are in the MAC Permanent Collection. The material is in the final process of digital elaboration and will be available at the end of May. Currently, a sample of creative activities around works from the MAC Permanent Collection is being offered online that the public can explore through artsandculture. google.com.

Functional Diversity- Educational resources to help prepare for encountering works of art.

Anyone can use this resource in their daily life or educational context. A series of workshops will soon be offered that explore the creative experience with ingredients that we have in our homes.