Tinian residents draw homestead lots
In its continuing efforts to provide land for many Northern Marianas people, the Board of Public Lands recently held a lottery in which 116 Tinian residents excitedly drew homestead lots which will be the sites of their future homes.
“The homesteading program has always been a priority of the Board of Public Lands,” said Manuel P. Villagomez, Board of Public Lands member. “We continue to work and overcome many obstacles so that we can open more homestead subdivisions in the Commonwealth.
The homestead applicants, who pulled for lots in the Marpo Heights Expansion area, drew their lot numbers last Friday at the Office of Public Lands on Tinian.
According to one of the staff conducting the homestead lottery, many applicants who arrived to draw their lots were very excited and nervous, and some were too excited to even sign their names on the homestead documents.
The homestead permits will be distributed within the next two weeks. From then on, the homestead applicants will be shown their lot boundaries.
The permits allow the homesteader to construct and live in their homes within a three-year period. After full compliance with the permit requirements, the homesteader will be given the deed to the property.
“We understand that there are many people who are still on the list waiting for their lots,” Mr. Villagomez said. “Our advise is to continue to be patient as we open more subdivisions and look into other potential homestead areas.”
According to Mr. Villagomez, more homestead subdivisions are slated to be opened in the near future. The board of Public Lands is in process of opening lots in the West San Jose areas in Tinian, the Tanapag and Koblerville areas in Saipan, and the Dugi area in Rota.
