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MPLA gets new board member
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Posted on Sep 08 2004
The Marianas Public Lands Authority now has a full board of directors, with the addition of Saipan representative Felix Sasamoto.
The CNMI’s former civil defense coordinator for 27 years, Sasamoto was nominated by Gov. Juan N. Babauta in early August to fill the last remaining vacancy in MPLA board. His nomination was confirmed by the Legislature a couple of weeks later.
He attended his first meeting with the rest of the MPLA board yesterday.
“At this job, you may make some friends, but you also make some enemies. It’s something you have to expect. But it’s nothing to be worried about, as long as your actions are based on good decisions—those that are in the public interest,” Sasamoto said in an interview.
But the 61-year-old retired official said he enjoys his new role, mainly because of the new knowledge it brings him. “I kind of like it. I’m learning more and more about land lease and the homestead program. I’m not yet fully aware of all the functions of MPLA, but I’m learning, little by little.”
Sasamoto said he run the then-Civil Defense Office for 27 years before he retired in the mid-1990s. The Civil Defense Office, along with the Disaster Control Office, was forerunner to the Emergency Management Office. EMO was established on Aug. 23, 1995 by Executive Order 94-3 by merging the two agencies.
Sasamoto has been inactive in government affairs since his retirement, focusing his time on managing his family apartment rental business.
However, a recent discussion with the governor led to his comeback to public affairs. “I was speaking with the governor, and I told him that I wanted to help [at Public Lands],” Sasamoto said.
His appointment to the MPLA board brought to five the number of directors in the agency. Other members are chair and Saipan representative Ana Demapan-Castro, vice chair and Tinian representative Manny Villagomez, Saipan representative Nicholas Nekai, and Rota representative Benita Manglona.
