Law allows DPH to dip hands in hemodialysis funds
Citing the present critical needs by the Department of Public Health, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law a measure granting powers to Sec. Joseph Kevin Villagomez to spend close to $840,000 in unused funds from a stalled hemodialysis building project for other immediate plans.
But the governor asked the Legislature to amend the new law as the identified source of funding is currently short by more than $162,000.
Only $698,694 is available for use by DPH, of which $400,000 has been set aside for the design and construction of a shelter for victims of domestic violence as well as $100,694 for the Mental Health Transitional Facility.
The rest of the money amounting to $360,000 supposedly will go to acquisition of a new oxygen generating machine as well as repair of a facility boiler system at the Commonwealth Health Center.
Provisions of the Public Law 11-94 also granted expenditure authority to Villagomez for the mental health facility as well as to Marylou S. Ada, corporate director of the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, for the battered women’s home.
Tenorio backed the re-appropriation of the funds from the proposed hemodialysis building expansion as its present funding level is not sufficient to begin the project now.
“I understand that the expansion of the hemodialysis building will receive adequate funding as it would be included as part of the Public Health Building project,” he said in signing into law the bill offered by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider.
