Previous Story
Legislators press for sewer line completion
|
Posted on Jul 19 1999
Legislators from Precint I on Friday met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to seek his intervention on the much-delayed sewer line project in southern Saipan, claiming that they have been left in the dark as to the fate of this critical infrastructure development.
“We want to know exactly when it is going to be continued and the schedule of completion,” said Rep. Karl T. Reyes before the meeting at the governor’s office.
Asked whether the project, which had been a subject of dispute between the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, is still being fought over, he said “that’s why we want to find out now what happened to the entire project.”
Reyes, Rep. Manuel A. Tenorio and Rep. Oscar M. Babauta rushed to the governor after the budget hearing. The Legislature would also seek a meeting with CPA and CUC to discuss the status of the project.
“We don’t want Precinct I suffering because of the delay,” said Reyes, who is seeking reelection in the November midterm elections.
Last May, the ports authority paid Pacific Drilling Ltd. its $350,000 share of the $750,000 additional claim made by the project contractor following the stop order issued by CPA when funds ran out last year.
CUC, which has agreed to takeover the completion of the $4.7 million project, will shoulder the remaining amount under the controversial memorandum of agreement that became the subject of months-long differences between the two government agencies.
The deal will also allow the utility corporation to hire a new construction management and eventually the project’s co-owner. After the completion, the project will be turned over to CUC which will begin paying CPA some $22,000 every month.
Running from Saipan International Airport to Agingan Waste Water Treatment Plant, the sewer will benefit some 1,000 households, mostly in the Dandan Homestead because it will pave the way for the community to connect to the main sewer line and eventually help protect the underground water resources of the island.
