Public hearings demanded for Esencia's site-location consultation

On July 16, 2026, NotiCel reports that Coalición Defiende a Cabo Rojo and its allies demand public hearings for the site-location consultation of the Esencia megaproject. Neighbors of Boquerón said signs announcing that consultation have been placed. They indicated that OGPe's Joint Regulation 2023, sections 2.1.10.1 and 2.2.3.19, contemplates hearings in Cabo Rojo, at hours and in a format that guarantee participation. The site-location consultation, the outlet explains, is the OGPe and autonomous-municipality mechanism to evaluate land use outside zoning already established, and it continues the construction-permit process.

Approximately 40 percent of the land they intend to impact, the opponents indicated, is classified as Especially Protected Ecological Rural Soils and 50 percent as Rural Soils, not urbanizable under the Land Use Plan in force. "We recognize this territory, all its forms of life, and our communities as historical, cultural, and environmental heritage," they stated. The group demands hearings, that the grant of nearly $5 million in credits and exemptions to the developers be voided, and that the project be canceled. They have held demonstrations on and off the island, taken part in Environmental Impact Statement hearings, and in the PA' LA CALLE CONTRA ESENCIA march on March 28, 2026. Those are their figures and their calendar. NotiCel does not publish here an answer from the developers or an OGPe ruling of that day.

On July 31, NotiCel covered approval of Esencia's site-location consultation. That approval is later. The July 16 demand for hearings and the July 31 approval are two acts. They are not collapsed. The reader who wants the Coalition's demand has the NotiCel URL at the foot.

Source: NotiCel. https://noticel.com/ultima-hora/20260716/exigen-llevar-a-vistas-publicas-consulta-de-ubicacion-de-esencia/