SNILD okays issuance of resident IDs by mayors

On their final session, Saipan lawmakers yesterday approved a proposal allowing residents of Saipan and the Northern Islands to obtain identification cards from their respective mayor’s office upon payment of a fee ranging from $7 to $15.

The measure, offered by Rep. Melvin O. Faisao, will provide island residents an official document, if no other valid IDs are available like driver’s license, that can be used for any legal transactions.

Saipan Mayor Jose C. Sablan and the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council had both endorsed the proposal since it will benefit the community in terms of identifying residents and citizens.

Under House Local Bill 11-26, each ID. card will cost about $7 for minors under 18 years of age, persons with disabilities and for elderly citizens above 55, while it will be $15 for all others. It will be valid for up to three years and can be renewed upon payment of the application fee.

The card will carry the name of the holder, sex, date of birth, residence address, a brief description, a photograph and signature, plus the respective mayor’s signature.

Each mayor of Saipan and the Northern Islands shall be authorized to carry out the ID. program and have expending authority over the funds generated by each municipality.

However, the local legislative delegation will still have to appropriate the money placed in special account established by the law for the program for its administrative expenses incurred by each municipality.

In a letter to the delegation, the Saipan mayor said his office had received positive input from the community on the plan, although he turned down a proposal to compel business establishments to provide discounts and other benefits to ID. card holders.

“I am sure that some benefits such as store discounts and certain privileges received by our senior citizens and students are not required by law, but instead, are at the discretion of the business establishment,” said Mr. Sablan.

But making this mandatory will veer away from the intent of the legislation, which is to provide official identification document that can be used by Saipan residents and citizens.

“[I]t may pose as an encumbrance to our local business community by compelling the latter to offer discounts or other incentives to cardholders,” he added.

The local bill now heads to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for signing.

$260K appropriation

Meanwhile, the Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation also passed an appropriation measure setting aside over $260,000 generated from the local developer infrastructure tax for road, drainage and road improvement in Precincts 1 and 3.

Its passage, however, came only after the 19-member chamber reached a compromise following attempt by Rep. Dino Jones to distribute the money equally among the four precincts on the island.

But Rep. Ana S. Teregeyo cautioned lawmakers against such a move, noting that representatives from Precinct 1 like her had been trying to get that funding for their respective projects.

She also urged them to give way to the Precinct 1 needs as most of the representatives there will not be in the 12th Legislature after losing in their re-election bids during the Nov. 6 midterm polls.