Toying with finite resource
Over the last two decades, we’ve opened up certain parcels of pubic land for homestead subdivisions where bureaucrats and politicians eventually tango over the delay of issuance of permits to deserving recipients.
The Division of Public Land (former MPLC) goes about its plans meticulously which include, surveying and subdividing the entire lot, soil and water testing, emplacement of basic infrastructure such as water pipes, roads, sewer and power poles.
This undertaking takes time to complete and it is sometime dealt a certain delay, i.e., materials such as water pipes are unavailable to proceed with the emplacement of the new subdivision’s water distribution plan.
It becomes problematic as potential recipients begin marching into offices of their legislators pressing that they be given their homestead lots, never mind such basic needs as water. Politicians would press the Division of Public Land for answers. Eventually, the people at DOPL submit to political pressure, thus the subsequent issuance of homestead permits even without the appropriate installation of basic infrastructure.
The next 4th of July parade comes into full view as recipients begin flocking the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation office pleading for water and power. The ball is now at CUC’s side of the court where they had to juggle funds to meet pleas for water by new homestead recipients.
In short, the appropriate disposition of public land is often derailed by pressure from hundreds of applicants that they be issued their homestead permits, now! It compromises an orderly preparation of these homestead subdivisions. And often because of the lack of basic infrastructure, these subdivisions turn into ugly tin-shack villages. It started with the infamous China Town subdivision in Garapan in the late 70s, followed by Koblerville, Dandan and Kagman I, II and III; and As Matuis.
The preparation of any homestead subdivision involves a process: land surveying and subdividing, emplacement of water, roads, power and sewer. Understandably, most people prefer short-circuiting such a process. In doing so, they’ve also created a nightmare such as the lack of sewer in the Dandan Homestead Subdivision sitting atop one of the best water lenses on the island.
As such, we’ve decided to employ the “advance to the rear” syndrome or bull before the cart in most disposition of new homestead subdivisions. Imagine the cost of rectifying contamination of tab water in Dandan Village which feeds water to the southern end of the island. It is for this reason that serious precaution must be taken in the issuance of homestead permits to ensure that we don’t unnecessarily destroy a finite resource.
