Puerto Rico

State Plant Health Director

Directs federal APHIS-PPQ pest detection and regulatory activities in cooperation with state officials, and coordinate the initial PPQ emergency response if an exotic pest is detected in the state.

State Plant Regulatory Official

Alex Muniz, 7877212120

Serves on the National Plant Board, oversees state pest detection and regulatory activities and coordinates survey activities between government agencies, public and private organizations. Coordinates the state’s initial emergency response if an exotic pest is detected.

State Survey Coordinator

Elian Centeno, (787) 241-8190
David Padilla, (787) 725-3984

Coordinates CAPS survey planning, execution and reporting as well as community outreach activities.

Pest Survey Specialist

Shirley Cruz, (787) 919-0590

Provides technical support in planning, executing and reporting annual surveys and coordinates pest detection activities with neighboring states.

8/2020 - USDA Seeks Help from Citizens to Collect Unsolicited Seeds Packages
8/2020 - Officials worry mystery seeds from China could be harmful to Indiana crops
8/2020 - USDA Provides List of Locations by State Where Public Can Mail Unsolicited Seed Packages
7/2020 - Unsolicited seeds could wreak havoc on agriculture, environment, state officials warn
5/2020 - A People Problem and Plant Disease: The Economics of Pest Management in Citrus Greening
1/2020 - In quake-hit Puerto Rico even the bees are fleeing their homes
2/2019 - Campbell Vaughn: Citrus greening is death sentence
11/2018 - APHIS Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for the National Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program
4/2018 - APHIS Issues Draft Environmental Impact Statement for National Fruit Fly Co-op Control Program
9/2017 - APHIS' Self-Inspection Gypsy Moth Checklist is Available as a Web-based Form