Saipan Tribune

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Friday, March 22, 2013

DPW secretary replaced; Pete A. is acting DPL chief

Gov. Eloy S. Inos appointed yesterday afternoon Martin C. Sablan to his old post as Department of Public Works secretary, shortly after the governor accepted DPW secretary Anthony A. Camacho's courtesy resignation effective at the end of this week. It's only been a little over a month since the Senate confirmed Camacho's appointment on Feb. 15.

Sablan, who was removed by former governor Benigno R. Fitial in March 2012, will begin serving as acting DPW secretary on Monday, March 25, while he awaits action from the Senate.

In a phone interview, Sablan said he's grateful for the governor's confidence in him.

“I will be putting 110 percent of my attention to help accomplish the administration's plans to move projects that have been pending. We will take a close look at all pending projects,” Sablan told Saipan Tribune.

The governor transmitted Sablan's appointment to the Senate yesterday for its advice and consent.

Acting DPL secretary

The governor also designated yesterday his senior policy adviser, Pedro A. Tenorio, as acting Department of Public Lands secretary while the one-month-old Inos administration selects a new DPL secretary subject to Senate confirmation.

“As the governor and lieutenant governor continue working on organizing their Cabinet, one of their major decisions will be on the appointment of a new secretary for DPL. While Gov. Inos and Lt. Gov. Hofschneider evaluate potential nominees for this position, they have full confidence that Mr. Tenorio will be able to take on the management of DPL in the interim,” press secretary Angel Demapan said.

It's only been a week since Tenorio was named senior policy adviser.

On Thursday, the governor also recalled from the Senate the nomination of Pedro Itibus as DPL secretary, while at the same time rejecting the courtesy resignation of Division of Environmental Quality director Frank Rabauliman.

As of yesterday, Inos has yet to decide on the other courtesy resignations and appointments, including the new Department of Community and Cultural Affairs secretary, a post that Rep. Janet Maratita (IR-Saipan) has been eyeing.