San Juan – The Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico published a report revealing that 80% of those surveyed believe that public administration is not transparent in its management. Of the 767 participants, 99.73% affirmed that it is important to know the information of governmental management. However, only 32.6% are aware of the existence of the open data interconnection portal, www.datos.pr.gov, and 17% indicated having visited this portal, which contains updated information on government services, as provided by Act 22 on Open Data of the Government of Puerto Rico of August 1, 2019.
“This result is one of the analyses that allows us to know the opinion of citizens about transparency and accountability in the public sector. In addition, it highlights the opportunities to improve compliance with the constitutional right of citizens to have access to public information,” indicated Comptroller Yesmín M. Valdivieso.
The survey, open to the public from October 19 to January 31, 2022, showed that 62% are aware of the existence of Act 141 on Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Public Information of 2019. However, only 41% are aware of Act 159 to Order the Broadcasting of Board of Directors Meetings on Internet Portals of 2013, and 51% are aware of Act 22-2019. In this regard, it is recommended to give greater publicity to these laws.
With respect to the process of requesting public information, 60% of the participants obtained the requested information from the entity, and 16% obtained a partial delivery. Those surveyed believed that bureaucracy and the lack of knowledge of the law by officials and citizens are the main obstacles in this process.
On the other hand, the opinion of an approximate average of 17% indicated being totally in agreement that the public information provided by the government is reliable, sufficient, clear, useful, accessible, and up to date. The Report recommends, among others, improving information technologies and internet portals, as well as applying quality standards to the data and overseeing compliance with them.
92% of those surveyed are aware of the Office of the Comptroller's portal, 57% have visited the web page at least 10 times, and 81% found the information they were looking for. The survey participants also made multiple recommendations to improve access to information on the portal.
The profile of the 767 participants corresponds to 59% women, 38% men, and 3% who did not respond or mentioned another gender; 90% are between 35 and 64 years of age, and 56% reside in the municipalities of Bayamón, Caguas, Carolina, Cayey, Guaynabo, Ponce, San Juan, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto.
This Results Report is part of a series of surveys to learn the opinions of citizens with respect to one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations Organization. Goal 16 indicates, among others, that transparency and access to information policies are essential pillars for accountability and citizen participation in public affairs.
“We urge officials, employees, and citizens of the government of Puerto Rico to take into account the opinion of those surveyed and to take the measures to implement the recommendations of the Report. The transparency of information is a pillar of good governance and allows citizens to be participants in government decisions,” expressed Comptroller Valdivieso.
Results Report – OCPR Survey on Transparency and Access to Information
CONTACT: Lisandra Rivera Rivera, Lic. R-168
Director
Office of Press and Communications
Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico
(787) 250-3322
lriverar@ocpr.gov.pr
Authorized by the Office of the Electoral Comptroller OCE-SA-2024-01511
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