Flashback – Aug. 10, 1999-2001

[B][U]Aug. 10, 1999[/U][/B] [B]Law allows DPH to realign funds for medical referral[/B]

The government yesterday granted authority to Public Health Sec. Joseph Kevin Villagomez to tap available resources from the department to fund anticipated shortfall in the medical referral program. Acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan signed into law a measure passed by the Legislature last month which provides for the reprogramming authority to the secretary in order to prevent a budget deficit under the program for the next two months or until the end of Fiscal 1999 in Sept. 30. “This legislation would assist the Department of Public Health to settle outstanding and projected Medical Referral Program’s financial obligations,” he said in signing Public Law 11-91.

[B]Manglona: Don’t leave out Rota[/B]

With the planned improvements in Saipan and Tinian airports, Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has appealed to the Commonwealth Ports Authority to begin planning for the extension of Rota International Airport runway. While he commends CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas for planning ahead for Saipan and Tinian, Manglona said he hopes the ports authority will do the same for the island municipality. “We also want to encourage you to be equally concerned about Rota’s future. Rota’s economic success depends on good and reliable air transportation,” he said. The runway improvement, Manglona noted, is an important component of the island’s economic development to stimulate Rota’s growth especially its tourism industry.

[B][U]Aug. 10, 2000[/U][/B] [B]$600K earmarked for Saipan projects[/B]

Over $600,000 were earmarked by the House of Representatives for various infrastructure projects on Saipan under three appropriation bills passed during the second day of its second regular session. The biggest chunk of the funding will go to construction of covered sidewalks in full compliance with federal accessibility standards for Garapan and Oleai Elementary Schools. The plan will cost $300,000 in government funds coming from re-appropriation of remaining balance from earlier capital improvement projects. Another $310,000 in CIP funding balance will also be shifted to finance much-needed infrastructure projects in Kagman, San Vicente, Koblerville and San Antonio, such as a public toilet and completion of a baseball field.

[B]Health care provider seeks $2-M from NMIRF[/B]

A Hawaii-based health care provider is demanding payment of over $2 million from the Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund to recover expenses it had spent for CNMI patients brought to the island state for medical treatment. NMIRF Administrator Juan S. Torres said he was surprised to find out about the huge amount, which the Fund reportedly owes the health care company. A meeting is scheduled to be held between Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, the Commonwealth Health Center and the Medical Referral Office to discuss the problem. Torres said he wanted a detailed evaluation of individual billings to find out who among the people brought to Hawaii should be taken cared of by the NMIRF.

[B][U]Aug. 10, 2001[/U][/B] [B]Legislature earmarks $77M for CIPs[/B]

More than $77 million in government funds have been set aside by the Legislature for several Capital Improvement Projects, as well as the development of the Chinatown sewerage system in Garapan. The money for these projects will be sourced from CDA Bond proceeds and interest, Covenant Section 702 funding, and unused money appropriated under Public Law 10-41, as outlined by two bills that were recently passed by the Senate. House Bill 12-374, also known as the Capital Improvement Projects Act of 2001, allocates a total of $50.19 million for capital improvement projects that may be identified by each senatorial district. The projects must be consistent with those specified in the revised CNMI 702 CIP Master Plan.

[B]New business defies slowdown[/B]

As it has always been said, there’s an upside from every downside. With this in mind, CNMI-based businessmen are defying the odds of the four-year-old economic crisis as indicated by the sprouting of small- and medium-scale establishments throughout the Northern Marianas. Business analysts say “diversity” is the key word in times like these and diversification is, indeed, what a locally-owned company has adopted to remain afloat in a period when some have scuttled. Already operating a myriad of business activities that include hardware, department store and fast-food restaurant, YCO Corporation sees an opportunity to further the company’s growth in the motoring sector.