GTA awaits CNMI Legislature’s confirmation of CPUC member

Members of the Senate and House took turns asking Joaquin S. Manglona on a host of issues during a public hearing yesterday on his nomination to serve on the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission, which GTA TeleGuam also hopes will soon be able to decide on their pending application to become a local exchange carrier in the CNMI.

Manglona’s confirmation by the Senate and House will pave the way for the CPUC to decide on the application of GTA Services LLC, doing business as GTA TeleGuam.

CPUC currently has one member, Viola Alepuyo.

It will require at least two CPUC members to decide on GTA’s application filed with the commission on March 22 to become a local exchange carrier on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Once confirmed by the House and Senate, Manglona will serve a four-year term that will expire on July 21, 2015.

Daniel J. Tydingco, GTA executive vice president, testified at the public hearing in the Senate chamber yesterday morning in support of “movement on the nomination to CPUC.”

“Our application cannot be addressed until we have a nomination in place,” Tydingco said.

He said GTA has already submitted all the required documents to CPUC.

“What’s left is they need to have at least two members to act on the issuance of the certificate,” Tydingco added.

Manglona, when asked for comment on the GTA application, said all he can say is that “competition is always good for consumers.”

GTA’s Tydingco said “ultimately,” competition “will render better services and lower prices.”

Manglona also said once confirmed, he will be looking at the current power rates which he said are “too high.” He said businesses have already closed shop and residents have been leaving the CNMI because of the high cost of living, mainly power and water rates.

Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (R-Saipan), during the public hearing, asked whether Manglona could also consider having a larger fuel tank in the CNMI so that the Commonwealth can save “half-a-million” dollar annually in added costs by bringing fuel to Guam first before bringing it to the CNMI.

Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations, also asked Manglona to look into the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s compliance with federal regulations, laws and orders including those from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), who was also at the hearing, announced that the House will not be conducting a public hearing on Manglona’s nomination separate from what the Senate held yesterday.

Cabrera said the House Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications Committee chaired by Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) will be issuing a recommendation to the full House.