CIP projects move forward on Rota

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog and Rota officials break ground for the new parking lot for the Rota Mayor’s Office, a Capital Improvement Project initiative. (Office of the Press Secretary)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres joined a couple of groundbreaking ceremonies for Rota infrastructure projects last week.

One was the groundbreaking for the Capital Improvement Project or CIP grant for the Rota Department of Public Safety and Fire Station parking lot paving project.

Funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Office of Insular Affairs, The project will consist of concrete pavement, traffic markers and signs, parking stalls inclusive of American Disability Act-compliant parking stalls, wheel stoppers, and drainage for storm water runoff to a designated ponding area in conformance with the BECQ Storm Water Manual. The project has been contracted to Pacific Cooperation in the amount of $184,100.

Torres said ensuring the timely implementation of capital improvement projects on Rota require collaboration with the Office of Capital Improvement and the leadership of Rota.

“Infrastructure needs are long overdue and this project addresses the infrastructure needs of key departments such as public safety in the community,” Torres said in a statement.

Capital Improvement Projects require that before the development of any CIP, government entities must define and develop the criteria for needed infrastructure based on policies for implementing improvement plans that meet public interest and priorities.

Torres and Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog also joined the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rota Mayor’s Office Parking Lot Paving Project.

“CIP projects continue to improve our infrastructure for our people. This harmonization of efforts benefit the people who we all serve,” said Rota Mayor Efraim Atalig in a statement.

The project is funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Office of Insular Affairs, and is contracted to Pacific Cooperation in the amount of $187,145.

The project improves the entrance and exit ways from the main road to the Rota Mayor’s Office and will consist of concrete pavement, traffic markers and signs, parking stalls inclusive of an ADA-compliant parking stall, wheel stoppers, and will drain the storm water runoff to a designated ponding area in conformance with the BECQ Storm Water Manual.

The ceremony for the groundbreaking took place on Friday at the Rota Mayor’s Office with several officials present to welcome a much-needed infrastructure improvement.

“This one of several ongoing projects that are getting off the ground,” said Virgina Villagomez, special assistant for Management and Budget/CIP. “We will be doing a groundbreaking in a few hours for the Rota/DPS grounds all funded by our partners at the Office of Insular Affairs. We expect CIP projects throughout the CNMI to be completed this year.”