Manglona gets Senate nod to CUC board for second time

The Senate, holding its session on Rota last Friday, passed a slew of bills, including a measure seeking mandatory health insurance coverage for people with diabetes, and approved the appointment of a board member of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

Laura I. Manglona, recently named by the governor to the board representing Rota, got Senate confirmation for the second time in less than 10 months.

She had resigned from her teaching job at Rota High School in exchange for her CUC appointment as the Constitution forbids government employees to be a member of the utility board.

Prior to her second nomination by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, Ms. Manglona resigned from the board last October amid questions on her appointment by the Senate which had confirmed her four months earlier.

The governor submitted her nomination for her second five-year term in early 1999, but her confirmation by the Senate stalled when her government job was discovered. But she got the senators’ nod last June after she handed over a supposed resignation letter addressed to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 12-56 or the Diabetes Health Maintenance Act of 2000 cleared the upper house during Friday’s session and now heads to the House of Representatives for voting.

Offered by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, the proposal will require health insurance providers in the CNMI to include people with diabetes in their coverage in order to avoid complications and bring down medical care costs.

It will also ensure accessibility by diabetic patients on the island to necessary supplies and equipment as well as health care for their treatment.

Other bills passed by senators included SB 12-56 or the Doctors Licensure Act, SB 12-57 merging the Board of Public Lands with the Division of Public Lands, SB 12-1 or the Homestead Act.

Among the House measures voted by the senators were HB 12-83 amending Public Law 11-119 to reflect new CIP priorities for the Rota senatorial district; and HB 12-94 amending existing law on municipal councils.

The Senate also approved on first reading a fresh measure seeking the creation of a regulatory body to oversee operations of utility service providers in the CNMI in an effort to protect consumers who end up paying high rates in the absence of such control.

Proposed by Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, SB 12-54 paved the way for another round of discussion on the issue after similar legislation failed to pass through both houses during the previous Legislature due to major differences among lawmakers.