Saipan Tribune

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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

FLASHBACK - Jan. 16, 2013

Jan. 16, 2001

Program eyed to curb growing delinquency

The Commonwealth Development Authority is eyeing the institution of a program that would help curb the increasing volume of delinquent borrowers in light of worsening economic condition on the island. CDA corporate division officials will sit down today to discuss possible ways to assist borrowers cope with their financial obligation amid hard economic times, according to Development Authority Board Chair John S. Tenorio. The government's major lending arm has been swamped with concerns on the increasing delinquency rate, as well as requests from borrowers for loan restructuring to allow them more time to settle their credit.

NMIRF taps private firm to study new GHLI rates

The Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund will hire an accounting firm to conduct an actuarial study on the effect of new premium rate being paid by the retirees to the government health and life insurance. Vicente Camacho, Board Chair of the NMIRF, said the firm will also assess the effect of the planned transfer of retirees 65 years old and above who are currently GHLI members to the Medicare Program. A year after the increased premium contribution of its more than 5,000 members implemented last Jan. 1, 2000, the CNMI Group Health Insurance Program adjusted the rate to cover the retirees so as to cope with the skyrocketing cost of medical expenses.

Jan. 16, 2002

CSC to renominate Sablan

The Civil Service Commission is planning to resubmit the nomination of Norbert S. Sablan as Personnel Officer before the end of the week. This was confirmed by Commission Board Chairman Vicente M. Sablan, who said they will probably send the renomination to the Senate before Friday this week. “The chair has been instructed by the Commission during its meeting last week to renominate Mr. Sablan as head of the Office of Personnel Management,” he said. The nomination will be submitted to the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations, which is chaired by Sen. David M. Cing.

Japanese govt backs BB Administration

The Japan-CNMI Parliament League of Friendship discussed Sunday with newly installed officials of the Commonwealth government deeper partnerships that would foster social and economic growth for both Japan and the Northern Marianas. Association President Takao Jinnouchi and Japan-Asean Society Representative Director Tsueno Shimoji met with Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente at the Hyatt Regency-Saipan to discuss possible collaborations between the organization and the CNMI government. Jinnouchi said the meeting also gave both parties the opportunity to thresh out ways on how the association may help the Babauta-Benavente Administration deliver its promises to the people of the Northern Marianas.

Jan. 16, 2003

Govt workers urged to cut work hours

Starting with the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Personnel Management, Gov. Juan N. Babauta kicked off his visit to all departments and agencies yesterday, as he tries to sell to government workers the idea of voluntarily reducing their work hours as a way to “share the pain” of an anticipated $19-million budget shortfall. At this point, though, Babauta may not have to engage in hard-sell to convince the estimated 4,000 government workers to go with the plan. Most government workers that Saipan Tribune spoke to yesterday expressed support for the initiative, with some saying the move is high time. Babauta explained that he is opting, at least for now, for a voluntary five-hour per payday reduction in the work hour of each employee, as this is the most feasible step at the moment.

OPM running out of patience over ’inaction’ to SB 13-114

The Office of Personnel Management aired frustration over the slow-paced action on the pending legislation that was hoped to end the long-standing Public Law 13-1 controversy, saying the impasse is preventing the agency from fulfilling its responsibilities. Personnel Director Juan I. Tenorio expressed his disappointment to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, adding that if the Legislature fails to take action soon, he would have to take the necessary steps to implement PL 13-1. That law amended sections of the Commonwealth Code, expanding the ranks of excepted service employees to include those under the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Resident Representative to the U.S. and the municipal councils for each senatorial district.