Teno reports to the Commonwealth

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio delivers today his State of the Commonwealth address that will sum up the accomplishment of his administration and spell out future actions he will undertake to deal with the continuing economic decline and worsening ties with the United States.

However, Tenorio, who is serving almost halfway of his four-year term, says he sees tougher times ahead because of the worsening economic condition in the Northern Marianas.

“This is the worst in the history of the commonwealth,” the governor said in an interview. “The economy is really in bad shape.”

Such situation, he says, is worrying him because of a host of problems it may spawn. “My major concern is…the possible increase in unemployment…Both the government and the private sector are not hiring anymore.”

According to Tenorio, shrinking available jobs would push a lot of local residents to depend on food stamps, which number of recipients has jumped 18 percent over a seven-month period to 4,501.

“We are hoping and praying that the economic condition will change,” he said.

The governor is expected to focus in his report to the Commonwealth on several economic initiatives he has implemented under a plan he unveiled in the last statement of agenda.

Topping the list is the creation of the Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force, which is currently putting together a blue print for the establishment of free trade zones on Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Such plan is envisioned to lure foreign investors, who will be provided with incentives.

The governor is also expected to touch on the accomplishments of the Aviation Task Force, whose main function is to attract airline companies into flying in the Northern Marianas to boost the slumping tourism economy, as well as the results of the first economic conference held in March.

Another issue which the governor is expected to mention is the management of the declining funds which some local officials say has helped the administration in preventing layoffs of government workers.

Since inheriting a nearly bankrupt government, the Tenorio administration has put in place wide-ranging cost-cutting steps to preserve jobs and keep critical public services going.

In the federal relations front, the CNMI leader is expected to enumerate several legislations implemented to address concerns of Washington on local labor and immigration problems. Among these measures are the limited immunity, the creation of a wage review committee and the indefinite ban on the hiring of foreign workers.

Amid increasing threat of a takeover of CNMI’s minimum wage, immigration and customs laws, Tenorio is expected to renew his opposition to put these Commonwealth functions under federal control.