PRESS RELEASE
DR. MARIO MARAZZI‐SANTIAGO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

April 3, 2018

AUTHORIZED STATEMENTS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATISTICAL INSTITUTE REGARDING APPROVAL OF REORGANIZATION PLAN #7

Last night, the Senate approved Reorganization Plan #7 to reorganize the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, merging into it several government entities, including the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

We agree that several statistical divisions from different entities can be consolidated to achieve cost-efficiencies, and the Institute is ready to assume those functions under the right circumstances. In fact, we are under the orders of the Governor and the Legislative Assembly to develop a Plan for the Reorganization of the Statistics System that consolidates these functions into an independent institution.

However, the aforementioned Reorganization Plan #7 also proposes to eliminate all the Institute's independent governance structures and transfer them to the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Trade, and then “outsource” the statistical functions. This is not the way to solve problems with Puerto Rico's statistics.

Thousands of people, 16 members of Congress, the Private Sector Coalition, the Transparency Network, the American Statistical Association and even the Fiscal Oversight Board have recommended that the Institute remain an independent entity of the Government of Puerto Rico, free from political intervention. We urge the Legislative Assembly to carefully weigh the bills. We are once again at your disposal.

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Press Contact: Sandra Morales Blanes (787) 688-0401

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Officials gather to form Statistics Coordination Committee

Press Release

New system improves speed and effectiveness when answering

Questions from citizens about statistical data

In order to automate and improve the speed and effectiveness of the processes for answering citizens' questions on statistical issues, the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico developed a new version of the system for answering questions. This new procedure allows managers and assistants of the Institute to see in real time the questions sent by citizens and to speed up the way they answer those questions. Through the tool of Google Analytics, the system allows us to know important aspects such as: demographic data, geographical data, if the user used a computer or a cell phone, the browser or Browser used, the company of Internet, among others.

“Using this new system, we will better know how long it took us to answer questions, what topics are most common among citizens and what resources were required to answer them. In addition, the tool makes it possible to generate quality control metrics, allowing the Institute to streamline processes, make better use of time, human resources and, consequently, public funds,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, acting executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

To use the new question system, people can send an email to preguntas@estadisticas.pr or access the link directly https://www.estadisticas.pr.gov/

Those interested in learning more about the Institute of Statistics can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Contacts:

Idia M. Martinez, R-28/787-603-3200

Lourdes Burgos, R-27/787-562-2932

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